Face Mask... 25.02.2021

Definition of face mask

1: a mask or protective covering for the face or part of the facedownhill skiers wearing neoprene face masks and goggles: such as

amedical

(1): a covering (as of polypropylene fiber or cotton fabric) for the mouth and nose that is worn especially to reduce the spread of infectious agents (such as viruses or bacteria)The Irish actor, 43, stopped by a supermarket to pick up groceries and wore a cloth face mask as protection against COVID-19.— Rachel McgrathA range of online retailers and in-store shops are selling face masks. … Opt for surgical masks or cloth masks with at least three layers.— Tessa AkermanNursing homes in New Hampshire have received face masks with flimsy paper ear loops instead of elastic bands.— Andrew Jacobs

(2): a device usually covering the mouth and nose to facilitate delivery of a gas (such as a general anesthetic) : MASK sense 2b(1)… the patient was breathing 40% oxygen by face mask.— Athe M. N. Tsibris et al.

bsports : a covering typically attaching to the front of a helmet that consists of a hard, clear material (such as polycarbonate) or a cage of metal (such as steel or a titanium alloy) and is worn to protect the wearer's face from injuryIn my hand, I held my silver football helmet with its full cage face mask.— John Killen… jersey numbers define the player in football, where helmets and face masks make it harder to identify a player's face.— Bill PenningtonSkates … elbow pads, hockey gloves, hockey stick, athletic supporter or pelvic protector, … and an HECC [Hockey Equipment Certification Council] approved hockey helmet with full face mask are required.— Palm Beach (Florida) Post

2or face mask penalty, American football : a penalty imposed on a player for grabbing and pulling an opponent's face mask during play… the Wolverines' Grant Perry was called for a face mask during a Desmond King punt return, giving Iowa the ball at Michigan's 36-yard line.— The Buffalo (New York) Newsa 15-yard face mask penalty

Examples of face mask in a Sentence

gas delivered to the patient via face mask

Recent Examples on the WebThat was part of a pattern, Ward said, because Goodwyn had twice been arrested after refusing to wear a face mask in public.— Kevin Krause, Dallas News, "Web designer who allegedly stormed Capitol refused to wear mask after arrest, feds say," 25 Feb. 2021Hundreds of students participated in the snowball fight Sunday, and photos shared by the university on Facebook showed most did not wear a face mask or practice social distancing.— Anchorage Daily News, "Liberty University president Jerry Prevo helped start a giant snowball fight. He’s now apologizing for ignoring the campus mask mandate.," 28 Feb. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'face mask.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.