mug

1 of 3

noun

ˈməg 

1

: a cylindrical drinking cup

2

a

: the face or mouth of a person

b

: grimace

c

: mug shot

3

a chiefly British

(1)

: fool, blockhead

(2)

: a person easily deceived

b

: punk, thug

mugful

ˈməg-ˌfu̇l 

noun

mug

2 of 3

verb (1)

mugged; mugging

intransitive verb

: to pose or make faces especially to attract attention or for a camera

transitive verb

: photograph

mug

3 of 3

verb (2)

mugged; mugging

transitive verb

1

: to assault usually with intent to rob

2

: to attack suddenly

got mugged in the press by his colleagues

muggee

ˌmə-ˈgē 

noun

Synonyms of mug

Noun

• cup

Verb (1)

• grimace
• scowl

Examples of mug in a Sentence

Noun

a collection of coffee mugs

He drank a mug of coffee.

They're taking you for a mug.

Verb (1)

every time their picture was snapped, both children mugged by sticking out their tongues or scrunching up their faces

mugging captured criminals for the police records

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This design is also available as a 16-ounce flip-top mug. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026

Three American flag mugs sat on the table between the three men. —Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026

Kelcie’s sets of dishes, mugs, pitchers, jars, and a variety of other useful items could be for sale in the finest of shops anywhere in the country. —Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026

For example, a former Goodwill employee revealed that her store was so overrun with mugs that the overstock ended up in a trash compactor. —Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

Verb (2)

probably from earlier mug to strike in the face, perhaps from mug entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1856, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Verb (2)

circa 1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mug

• a mug's game
• mug's game
• mug shot
• mug up

Rhymes for mug

• chug
• doug
• drug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• lug
• plug
• pug
• rug
• rugg
• shrug

Kids Definition

mug

1 of 3 noun

ˈməg 

1

: a usually large drinking cup with a handle

2

: the face or mouth of a person

3

: punk entry 1 sense 1, thug

mug

2 of 3 verb

mugged; mugging

1

: to make faces especially to attract attention : grimace

2

: photograph entry 2

mug

3 of 3 verb

mugged; mugging

: to assault especially with the intention of robbing

mugger noun

Legal Definition

mug

transitive verb

mugged; mugging

: to assault (an individual) usually with intent to rob