face mask

noun

plural face masks

1

: a mask or protective covering for the face or part of the face

downhill skiers wearing neoprene face masks and goggles

: such as

a medical

(1)

: a covering (as of polypropylene fiber or cotton fabric) for the mouth and nose that is worn especially to reduce the spread of infectious agents (such as viruses or bacteria)

The Irish actor, 43, stopped by a supermarket to pick up groceries and wore a cloth face mask as protection against COVID-19.

—Rachel Mcgrath

A range of online retailers and in-store shops are selling face masks. … Opt for surgical masks or cloth masks with at least three layers.

—Tessa Akerman

Nursing homes in New Hampshire have received face masks with flimsy paper ear loops instead of elastic bands.

—Andrew Jacobs

(2)

: a device usually covering the mouth and nose to facilitate delivery of a gas (such as a general anesthetic) : mask sense 2b(1)

… the patient was breathing 40% oxygen by face mask.

—Athe M. N. Tsibris et al.

b

sports : a covering typically attaching to the front of a helmet that consists of a hard, clear material (such as polycarbonate) or a cage of metal (such as steel or a titanium alloy) and is worn to protect the wearer's face from injury

In my hand, I held my silver football helmet with its full cage face mask.

—John Killen

… jersey numbers define the player in football, where helmets and face masks make it harder to identify a player's face.

—Bill Pennington

Skates … elbow pads, hockey gloves, hockey stick, athletic supporter or pelvic protector, … and an HECC [Hockey Equipment Certification Council] approved hockey helmet with full face mask are required.

—Palm Beach (Florida) Post

2

or face mask penalty American football : a penalty imposed on a player for grabbing and pulling an opponent's face mask during play

… the Wolverines' Grant Perry was called for a face mask during a Desmond King punt return, giving Iowa the ball at Michigan's 36-yard line.

—The Buffalo (New York) News

a 15-yard face mask penalty

Examples of face mask in a Sentence

gas delivered to the patient via face mask

Recent Examples on the Web

They were all wrapped in matching satin robes, relaxing with face masks on and cucumber slices over their eyes. —Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 21 Apr. 2025

The best kinds of disposable face masks to wear haven't changed a lot: N95 masks are your best bet. —Lisa Wood Shapiro, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025

The demands included a ban on face masks, limitations on campus protests and a review of academic departments’ biases. —Makiya Seminera, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2025

Beauty enthusiasts have, at times, gone to great lengths to import Korean serums, face masks, moisturizers, sunscreens, and the like from exporters usually based in Korea or Hong Kong. —Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1754, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for face mask

• ask
• bask
• basque
• cask
• casque
• flask
• masque
• pasch
• task
• subtask
• unmask

Medical Definition

face mask

noun

: a mask or protective covering for the face or part of the face: such as

a

: a covering (as of polypropylene fiber or cotton fabric) for the mouth and nose that is worn especially to reduce the spread of infectious agents (such as viruses or bacteria)

Findings demonstrate that, regardless of the type, setting, or who wears the face mask, it serves primarily a dual preventive purpose; protecting oneself from getting viral infection and protecting others. Therefore, if everyone wears a face mask in public, it offers a double barrier against COVID-19 transmission.

—Mary Abboah-Offei et al., International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances

b

: a device usually covering the mouth and nose to facilitate delivery of a gas (such as general anesthetic) : mask sense 2a

Using a face mask (on the nose and mouth simultaneously) … throughout the induction and maintenance of anesthesia with inhalants is the simplest and least invasive method of anesthesia for short surgery.

—Omid Aghadavoudi et al., Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine