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

Score half off this best-selling extendable dining table, which can seat up to eight guests, and pair it with this glass cabinet for displaying your favorite mugs and cookbooks. —Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2026

Those who genuinely embrace winter’s chill with roaring fires and cozy mugs of hot chocolate, and those who flee to the tropics the minute the sun starts setting before 5 pm. —Annie Daly, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2026

Ludwig also notes that there are a lot of good options on the market for insulated mugs, tumblers, carafes. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026

Most Christmas markets across Europe serve Glühwein in collectible mugs with the market's logo or shaped like Santa's boot. —Nicole Werbeck, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025

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