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Synonyms

mascot

American  
[mas-kot, -kuht] / ˈmæs kɒt, -kət /

noun

mascots plural
  1. an animal, person, or thing adopted by a group as its representative symbol and supposed to bring good luck.

    The U.S. Navy mascot is a goat.


mascot British  
/ ˈmæskət /

noun

  1. a person, animal, or thing considered to bring good luck

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of mascot

1880–85; < French mascotte < Provençal mascoto talisman, charm, derivative of masco sorceress. See mask

Explanation

A mascot is an animal or character that represents a group. If your high school soccer team is called "the weasels," it means that a weasel must be your school's mascot. Some mascots supposedly bring luck to an organization or club, and others are used as marketing for a team or brand. Smokey the Bear is the mascot of the U.S. Forest Service and stars in commercials urging the public to help prevent forest fires. Tony the Tiger is also a mascot of sorts, for Frosted Flakes cereal. Sports team mascots actually appear at games and matches, dancing around between innings and high-fiving little kids in the stands.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing mascot

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.

Inverness-based inflatables business Mascot Madness Entertainment has challenged the council to fully explain its decision.

From BBC • May 24, 2023

Buoy’s design by the team, the Chicago Mascot Company and 3PT productions, was partly inspired by the former “Squatch” mascot of the since-relocated NBA Sonics.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 1, 2022

For National Mascot Day, take a look at some of California’s quirkiest mascots.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 25, 2021

Marty, a shelter cat, won 53% of the Mount Washington Mascot Primary in January 2008, the same time that Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain won their respective races in the first-in-the-nation presidential primary.

From Washington Times • Nov. 9, 2020

“Not really. It’s kind of disappointing, but I’m late to the Great Mascot Debate,” Elle said.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

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