A smokescreen is a cloud of smoke created to conceal military operations. It can also be used metaphorically to describe any action or statement used to hide the truth or to divert attention from something. In military contexts, smokescreens are typically created using smoke-producing devices, like smoke grenades or shells, to conceal the movements or location of troops. In everyday language, a “smokescreen” often refers to deceptive or misleading actions or rhetoric designed to obscure the truth.