mace

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈmās 

: an aromatic spice consisting of the dried external fibrous covering of a nutmeg

mace

2 of 4

noun (2)

1

a

: a heavy often spiked staff or club used especially in the Middle Ages for breaking armor

b

: a club used as a weapon

2

a

: an ornamental staff borne as a symbol of authority before a public official (such as a magistrate) or a legislative body

b

: one who carries a mace

mace

3 of 4

verb

maced; macing

transitive verb

: to attack with the liquid Mace

Mace

4 of 4

trademark

ˈmās 

—used for a temporarily disabling liquid usually used as a spray

Examples of mace in a Sentence

Verb

She maced the man who attacked her.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Manley thinks this is due to tradition and people trusting their guns over bear mace. —Benjamin Alva Polley, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025

In Mari’s attempt to escape, they both were sprayed with mace, leaving them equally in pain and defeated. —Esther Zuckerman, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

Verb

The victim said Belcher maced him before opening fire. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025

One neighbor who went to Fuentes’ door to ask about the remark told police she was maced by the race-baiting provocateur. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Old French mascie, macis, from Medieval Latin macis

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *mattia; akin to Latin mateola mallet

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1967, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mace

• ace
• base
• brace
• case
• chace
• dace
• face
• grace
• lace
• pace
• place
• race

Kids Definition

mace

1 of 2 noun

ˈmās 

1

: a heavy spiked club used as a weapon in the Middle Ages

2

: an ornamental staff carried as a symbol of authority

mace

2 of 2 noun

: a spice made from the dried outer covering of the nutmeg

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mace "a heavy spiked club," from early French mace (same meaning); probably of Latin origin

Noun

Middle English mace "the spice mace," from early French mascie, macis (same meaning), from Latin macis "an East Indian spice"

Medical Definition

Mace

trademark

ˈmās 

—used for a temporarily disabling liquid that when sprayed in the face of a person causes tears, dizziness, immobilization, and sometimes nausea