WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•sem•blance1
(di sem′bləns),USA pronunciation n.
dis•sem•blance2 (di sem′bləns),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- dissimilarity;
unlikeness.
- Middle French dessemblance. See dis-1, semblance
- late Middle English 1425–75
dis•sem•blance2 (di sem′bləns),USA pronunciation n.
- dissembling;
dissimulation.
- dissemble + -ance 1550–60
dis•sem•ble /dɪˈsɛmbəl/USA pronunciation
v. [no object], -bled, -bling.
dis•sem•bler, n. [countable]See -semble-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to hide or conceal one's true motives or thoughts;
speak or act hypocritically:You can always tell if he's dissembling; his voice trembles when he lies.
dis•sem•bler, n. [countable]See -semble-.
dis•sem•ble
(di sem′bəl),USA pronunciation v., -bled, -bling.
v.t.
v.i.
dis•sem′bler, n.
dis•sem′bling•ly, adv.
v.t.
- to give a false or misleading appearance to;
conceal the truth or real nature of:to dissemble one's incompetence in business. - to put on the appearance of;
feign:to dissemble innocence. - [Obs.]to let pass unnoticed;
ignore.
v.i.
- to conceal one's true motives, thoughts, etc., by some pretense;
speak or act hypocritically.
- Latin dissimulāre. See dis-1, simulate
- alteration (by association with obsolete semble to resemble) of Middle English dissimulen 1490–1500
dis•sem′bling•ly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged mask, hide, camouflage, dissimulate.