masonry

American  

[may-suhn-ree] / ˈmeɪ sən ri /

noun

• masonries
  plural

1. the craft or occupation of a mason.

2. work constructed by a mason, especially stonework.

   the crumbling masonry of ancient walls.

3. (initial capital letter) Freemasonry.

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masonry British  

/ ˈmeɪsənrɪ /

noun

1. the craft of a mason

2. work that is built by a mason; stonework or brickwork

3. (often capital) short for Freemasonry

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• masonries
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of masonry

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English masonerie, from Middle French maçonnerie; equivalent to mason + -ery

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Explanation

The word masonry refers both to the process of building things out of stone or brick and to the structures that result from this process. To practice masonry, you have to be strong enough to lift very heavy rocks. Some masonry experts (called masons) essentially "glue" bricks together with mortar, making walls, outdoor stoves, or walking paths. You can also call a person who does this a bricklayer. Other masonry is made with concrete blocks, granite, or large stones. Dry stone walls are a type of masonry constructed with no mortar—the stones are shaped and arranged so that they fit together securely.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

masonry masonries

Duffy, in turn, appealed to Diamantis when he feared Tolland’s general contractor was switching from masonry to drywall.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Mentmore Towers, in rural Buckinghamshire, was served a listed-building repairs notice in August, urging the owners to carry out a survey of the flying mammals and repair masonry.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

Rescuers formed human chains to remove bricks and masonry, stopping every few minutes to listen for signs of life from those trapped below.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

But his search yielded only crushed masonry; no bones, and no sign of his son, or the others killed with him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

I needed to think about what I’d say next, carefully lining up my words like rows of even masonry, so that there could be no misunderstandings.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

The portals of the palaces of Venice have one or other of these masonries, almost without exception.

From The Stones of Venice, Volume I (of 3) by John Ruskin

I see the nameless masonries, venerable messages of the unknown events, heroes, records of the earth.

From Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

Some time later he went to a church-builder in the same place, and under the architect's direction became handy at restoring the dilapidated masonries of several village churches round about.

From Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy

Stately masonries, long-drawn arches, cloisters, sounding aisles buttress it, begirdle it far and wide.

From Past and Present Thomas Carlyle's Collected Works, Vol. XIII. by Thomas Carlyle

Stately masonries, longdrawn arches, cloisters, sounding aisles buttress it, begirdle it far and wide.

From Past and Present by Thomas Carlyle

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