guise

noun

ˈgīz 

1

: a form or style of dress : costume

attended the masquerade in the guise of a court jester

2

a

obsolete : manner, fashion

b

archaic : a customary way of speaking or behaving

3

a

: external appearance : semblance

The android is a machine in human guise.

b

: pretext

swindles people under the guise of friendship

Synonyms

• act
• airs
• charade
• disguise
• facade
• façade
• front
• masquerade
• playacting
• pose
• pretense
• pretence
• put-on
• semblance
• show

Examples of guise in a Sentence

he sneaked into the castle to rescue Ivanhoe in the guise of a priest coming to give Ivanhoe his last rites

she felt as though she should be wearing some sort of Germanic guise, complete with dirndl, for the fall festival featuring traditional German food and drink

Recent Examples on the Web

In this guise, an already stylish vehicle more sophisticated than ever. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 21 Jan. 2025

In its most recent guise, the company, which no longer has stores of its own, has made a return to the high street, re-emerging in 2021 through a deal with perennial brand collaborator and U.K. apparel powerhouse Next. —Mark Faithfull, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025

In this current guise, City look incapable of stringing even two together. —Mark Critchley, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024

Wearing a brown knit cardigan, Beetlejuice takes on the guise of a couples therapist. —Emma Fraser, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gise, guise, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wīsa manner — more at wise

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing guise

• in the guise of
• under the guise of

Kids Definition

guise

noun

ˈgīz 

1

: a form or style of dress : costume

in the guise of a shepherd

2

: outer or disguised appearance : semblance

swindled people under the guise of friendship

Biographical Definition

Guise 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈgēz,

also

ˈgwēz 

2nd Duc de 1519–1563 François de Lorraine French soldier and politician

Guise

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

3rd Duc de 1550–1588 Henri I de Lorraine French soldier and politician