face mask

American  

Or facemask

noun

• face masks
  plural

1. 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.

2. 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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• face masks
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of face mask

First recorded in 1905–10; face + mask

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

face mask

Brown, 37, who wore a black face mask, sunglasses and black baseball cap when he arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London, had admitted to affray at an appearance in July.

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026

Brown, 37, who wore a black face mask, sunglasses and black baseball cap when he arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London, had admitted to affray at a court appearance in July.

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026

The “Fearsome White” uniform features a helmet that includes white horns and a white face mask.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 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

I put my gloved hands into the brown Jik, scooped up some of the liquid, and poured it over my head and face mask.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

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