French word

démasquer

Pronunciation

IPA/demaske/

Meaning

  • verbunmask

Example

Qui va démasquer l'imposteur ?

Who will unmask the impostor?

Illustration for démasquer (unmask)

More examples

Ils ont réussi à démasquer le menteur.

They managed to unmask the liar.

Core concept

A mask being lifted to expose a person's real identity or hidden intent.

Common phrases

  • démasquer un imposteur

    unmask an impostor

  • démasquer quelqu'un

    unmask someone

Similar words

révéler: Make concealed facts or information known.
dévoiler: Unveil a hidden secret or the truth about a situation.
découvrir: Discover something that was not previously known.
exposer: Lay a secret or problem openly before the public.

Definition in French

Révéler la vraie identité ou les intentions cachées de quelqu'un.

Word origin

Démasquer combines dé-, indicating removal, with masque, a borrowing from Italian maschera, and originally describes removing a mask.

Usage tips

  • Démasquer is transitive, so standard constructions include démasquer quelqu'un and démasquer un imposteur without a preposition.

Other meanings

  • exposeverb
  • see throughverb

Opposites

Related words

  • démasquéunmaskedadjective
  • démasquageunmaskingnoun

Word lists with this word