face mask

American  

Or facemask

noun

• face masks
  plural

1. Sports. the protective equipment, usually made of steel or plastic, that guards the face, as the steel cage worn by a baseball catcher or the molded plastic covering worn by a hockey goalkeeper.

2. any of various similar devices to shield the face, sometimes attached to or forming part of a helmet, as that worn by workers engaged in a hazardous activity.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• face masks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of face mask

First recorded in 1905–10; face + mask

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

face mask

On Aug. 12 around 5:30 a.m., a man in a disturbing white face mask chased a 40-year-old woman in the downtown area of Philadelphia across from City Hall, according to the city’s Police Department.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

The “Fearsome White” uniform features a helmet that includes white horns and a white face mask.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

The group of departees includes Bucknor, who has been sidelined since he was struck in the face mask by a foul ball on April 1.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

Officers found him wearing gloves and a blue surgical face mask, and with a pair of scissors in his pocket.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

She dug into her can and pulled out a face mask.

From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds