face mask

American  

Or facemask

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of face mask

First recorded in 1905–10; face + mask

Example Sentences

Wearing a face mask, Maradona struggled to walk onto the field on his own.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

The following day Lyons was photographed, with his hands bound by cable ties, being led from police headquarters wearing bright orange overalls and a black face mask.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

During the removal process, she wore a face mask connected to a rolling cart of the laughing gas and oxygen tanks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

He wore a face mask and gloves while handling the deadly bundles.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

“I’m not goin’,” Ernie repeated over and over again, his voice muffled by the face mask.

From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds