massage

American  

[muh-sahzh, -sahj, mas-ahzh] / məˈsɑʒ, -ˈsɑdʒ, ˈmæs ɑʒ /

noun

1. the act or art of treating the body by rubbing, kneading, patting, or the like, to stimulate circulation, increase suppleness, relieve tension, etc.

2. Slang. attentive or indulgent treatment; pampering.

   ego massage.

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verb (used with object)

massages, present (3rd person singular) massaged, past participle, past massaging present participle

1. to treat by massage.

2. Slang. to treat with special care and attention; coddle or pamper.

   The store massages its regular customers with gifts and private sales.

3. Informal.

   1. to manipulate, maneuver, or handle skillfully.

      to massage a bill through the Senate.

   2. to manipulate, organize, or rearrange (data, figures, or the like) to produce a specific result, especially a favorable one.

      The auditors discovered that the company had massaged the books.

massage British  

/ -sɑːdʒ, ˈmæsɑːʒ /

noun

1. the act of kneading, rubbing, etc, parts of the body to promote circulation, suppleness, or relaxation

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verb

1. to give a massage to

2. to treat (stiffness, aches, etc) by a massage

3. to manipulate (statistics, data, etc) so that they appear to support a particular interpretation or to be better than they are; doctor

4. to boost someone's sense of self-esteem by flattery

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• massagist
  noun
• massager
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have massaged
  perfect
• has massaged
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been massaging
  perfect progressive
• is massaging
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been massaging
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• massaging
  participle
• am massaging
  progressive 1st person singular
• are massaging
  progressive
• massages
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had massaged
  perfect
• had been massaging
  perfect progressive
• was massaging
  progressive singular
• were massaging
  progressive plural
• massaged
  simple
• massaged
  participle

Future

• will massage
  simple
• will have massaged
  perfect
• will be massaging
  progressive
• will have been massaging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of massage

1875–80; < French, equivalent to mass ( er ) to massage (< Arabic massa to handle) + -age -age

Explanation

When someone rubs your muscles to help relax them, that's a massage. Feels good, doesn't it? When someone tells you how great you are to gain favor, they massage your ego. Not bad, either. The word massage has a mysterious background, possibly coming from the Arabic massa, meaning "to touch," finding its way to 19th Century France by way of Napoleon. Would you accept a foot massage from Napoleon? Or, it might have worked its way to France from India, where amassar carries the meaning "knead." The year 1913 saw the first massage parlor, which was really a brothel. Today massage is a recognized form of physical therapy and is, of course, practiced by amateurs too. A little to the left, please.

Example Sentences

Findlay Curtis' massage gun didn't sound that odd, while the ever-reliable Kenny McLean's certainty that there "wasn't anything too weird" wavered the more that he thought about it.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

The five-bedroom mansion with soaring ceilings and a gourmet kitchen features a rockin’ lower level that includes a wine cellar, gym, massage room, creative work area, kitchen, vocal booth, den, and guest suite.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

At the Kino Sports Complex, Iranian players will have access to the club's weight training facilities, ice baths, and massage tables.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

The bubbles and the “five-more-minutes” foot massage helped boost my confidence.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

We’re side by side with each other, laughing while we massage our aching elbows and legs.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

Related Words

• caress
• pat
• rub