Politics dictionary
anti-masker
or antimasker [ an-tee-mask-er ]
What does anti-masker mean?
Anti-masker refers to individuals who oppose wearing face masks, particularly in response to health mandates like those found during the COVID-19 pandemic. This term is commonly used in discussions about public health, personal freedoms, and pandemic-related policies. Anti-maskers often argue that mask mandates infringe on personal rights or believe masks are ineffective, while others view mask-wearing as a vital protective measure.
Where does anti-masker come from?
An anti-masker is a person who is anti (opposed to, against) wearing various medical masks and other such face coverings to prevent the spread of disease, specifically COVID-19. Anti-masker began appearing on social media early in 2020, coinciding with the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health experts advised people to wear masks in public places and gatherings to help slow the spread of COVID-19, a disease caused by a highly contagious, airborne virus. Many governments issued mandatory mask mandates in response. But a lot of people refused to wear masks, and wearing them became hotly politicized. Some people were skeptical that masks work and believed the risks of COVID-19 were overblown. Others rejected masks as an exercise of civil liberties.
As 2020 unfolded and the pandemic persisted, anti-masker spread as a term that people concerned about the coronavirus use to mock people taking the virus too lightly by refusing to wear masks. The term anti-masking is also used to refer to the stance opposed to masks or to protest groups who oppose mask mandates.
Examples of anti-masker
Who uses anti-masker?
The term anti-masker is often used by public health advocates, media outlets, and social media users to describe individuals who oppose or refuse to wear face masks, especially in situations where mask mandates were in place. The term is used to highlight contrasting views on public safety measures, often sparking debates about collective responsibility and individual choice.
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of anti-masker like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of anti-masker that will help our users expand their word mastery.