oxygen mask

American  

noun

• oxygen masks
  plural

1. a masklike device placed or worn over the nose and mouth when inhaling supplementary oxygen from an attached tank.

---

oxygen mask British  

noun

1. a device, worn over the nose and mouth, to which oxygen is supplied from a cylinder or other source: used to aid breathing

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• oxygen masks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of oxygen mask

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

oxygen mask

Later he tells me to take control of the plane with the stick as I wear my helmet and oxygen mask and hear his instructions on the radio.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

Opposite Mona, her other son was holding an oxygen mask to his mouth and could not speak.

From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2026

I don’t like to spout clichés, but you do have to put your own oxygen mask on first in this situation.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 11, 2026

Starting to feel confused and worried he might pass out, Tellman reached for his oxygen mask.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025

Bull slid his finger between his cheek and his oxygen mask and sniffed for smoke.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy