masking tape

American  

noun

• masking tapes
  plural

1. an easily removed adhesive tape used temporarily for defining margins, protecting surfaces, etc., as when painting, and sometimes also for binding, sealing, or mending.

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masking tape British  

noun

1. an adhesive tape used to mask and protect surfaces surrounding an area to be painted

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• masking tapes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of masking tape

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

masking tape

Many of the items now live in neat squares made out of masking tape on the shop floor.

From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2026

A yet-to-be-opened trading floor was a barren expanse with rows of wooden desks still covered in blue masking tape and empty computer stands awaiting monitors to be screwed onto them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025

After losing three of his projected five starters in the season’s first two months, manager Dave Roberts has had to use everything short of masking tape to keep a rotation together.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2025

Butcher marked the individual accent shingles on the addition himself, with blue and green masking tape, from the steps of a ladder held by Harris.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 20, 2023

I also asked if he would be willing to give us masking tape to tape our logos and not destroy outside property.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers