face mask
Americannoun
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Sports. the protective equipment, usually made of steel or plastic, that guards the face, as the steel cage worn by a baseball catcher or the molded plastic covering worn by a hockey goalkeeper.
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any of various similar devices to shield the face, sometimes attached to or forming part of a helmet, as that worn by workers engaged in a hazardous activity.
Etymology
Origin of face mask
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Officers found him wearing gloves and a blue surgical face mask, and with a pair of scissors in his pocket.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
His previous creations have included a smartwatch and a high-tech face mask launched during the pandemic and tricked out with Bluetooth, LED lights and a magnetic earbud docking system.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
Swedish star Felicia is known for wearing a protective face mask during her performances - which is more to do with body image than a fear of disease.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Kim, who appeared in court wearing a white face mask, kept her head lowered as the verdict was announced.
From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026
I laugh, looking down the hall to see Will outside his door, wearing a face mask and gloves.
From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
