masonry

American  

[mey-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

Etymology

Origin of masonry

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

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

“Richmond has this really sort of amazing legacy of masonry and brick facades,” Diamond said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

If feasible, the developers agreed to reuse a six-story brick masonry building on 4th Street, dating to the early 1900s, that is no longer used to chill goods.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

Renata Pintus, who heads the masonry department at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence's famous restoration workshop, told AFP it had been a "privilege" to work on Giotto's famous fresco cycle.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

His graciousness even extended to the treatment of wooden water tanks, which he often wrapped in masonry to give them the appearance of little temples—much nicer to look at from the street.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

The tower of the church looked as if wind and weather had been wearing the masonry down for a dangerously long time.

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke

The speaker was a man named Jack Stagg, with whom Jude had formerly worked in repairing the college masonries; Tinker Taylor was seen to be standing near.

From Jude the Obscure by Hardy, Thomas

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 Carlyle, Thomas

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 Ruskin, John

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

From Past and Present by Carlyle, Thomas

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

From Leaves of Grass by Whitman, Walt