mug shot
Americannoun
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Also called headshot. an identifying photograph of a suspect or criminal, often one of a set showing a frontal view, a profile view, and a view of the back of the head.
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any closeup photograph of someone's face.
noun
Etymology
Origin of mug shot
First recorded in 1945–50
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.
The mug shot, taken in 2023, became part of US culture, adorning everything from coffee cups to T-shirts.
From BBC • Jan. 17, 2025
Pieces of his mug shot suit!—is a bit of a homegrown monster.
From Slate • Jul. 19, 2024
Was it just another opportunity to look tough, like his glowering expression in his mug shot?
From Salon • Jul. 15, 2024
Later Tuesday, the Sag Harbor Police Department released a mug shot of the singer that was taken during booking.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2024
Because Dana was under eighteen, the authorities weren’t allowed to release his name to the media—a fact that rankled Roy’s mother, who believed Dana’s mug shot should have been plastered on the front page.
From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
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.
