smokescreen
|smoke-screen|
🇺🇸
/ˈsmoʊkˌskriːn/
🇬🇧
/ˈsməʊkˌskriːn/
concealment
Etymology
'smokescreen' originates from the combination of 'smoke' and 'screen', where 'smoke' meant 'visible suspension of carbon or other particles in air' and 'screen' meant 'a partition or barrier'.
'smokescreen' was first used in a military context to describe a literal screen of smoke used to obscure movements.
Initially, it meant 'a literal screen of smoke', but over time it evolved into its current metaphorical meaning of 'a deceptive action or statement'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a cloud of smoke created to conceal military operations or positions.
The army used a smokescreen to hide their movements from the enemy.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a ruse or action intended to disguise or conceal something.
The company's environmental initiative was just a smokescreen to distract from their pollution issues.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45