masonry

American  

[may-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

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Etymology

Origin of masonry

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

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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

Covering the top of the drain were flat stones, which are believed to be medieval masonry.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

He seemed to be an expert at everything, including astronomy, architecture, acting, cars, taxidermy, music, masonry and whales.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Mentmore Towers, in rural Buckinghamshire, was served a listed-building repairs notice in August, urging the owners to carry out a survey of the flying mammals and repair masonry.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

Rescuers formed human chains to remove bricks and masonry, stopping every few minutes to listen for signs of life from those trapped below.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

Or were the rafters and posts drying out and contracting against the masonry?

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

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

From Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

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 John Ruskin

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 Thomas Hardy

Some time later he went to a church-builder in the same place, and under the architect's direction became handy at restoring the dilapidated masonries of several village churches round about.

From Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy

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 Thomas Carlyle

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