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.
"I'm wearing a face mask, but not many people are."
From BBC • May 19, 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
Bucknor’s nightmare week continued when he left a game after a foul tip hit him in the face mask.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
“That’s a ton of chemicals. Don’t breathe any of it in,” Sheryl reminds us, pulling on her face mask.
From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio
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.
