From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcharadecha‧rade /ʃəˈrɑːd $ ʃəˈreɪd/ noun 1 → charades2 [countable]PRETEND a situation in which people behave as though something is true or serious, when it is not really true Unless more money is given to schools, all this talk of improving education is just a charade.
Examples from the Corpus
charade• Simon has told Susan that his marriage is a charade, continued only for the sake of the children.• The trial was just a charade -- the verdict had already been decided.• The institutional separation of the state from the capitalist class is not simply a charade.• Simon told Susan that his marriage was a charade, continued only for the sake of the children.• In the evening, after the first stiffness wore off and charades were introduced, the party went with a swing.• Both are charades meant to direct attention away from a stubborn commitment to the status quo.• Without a firm commitment to peace, the talks will be a disappointing charade.• Dash was watching the charade and laughing.• Lee no longer wanted to be part of this charade.• The whole charade is compounded by financial extravagance.Origin charade (1700-1800) French Provençal charrado “conversation” 