facemask

/ˈfeɪs.mæsk/

//ˈfeɪs.mæsk// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"facemask" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“facemask” is uncommon English (frequency #67,430 among 2,507 “F” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#67,430
frequency rank, English
2,507
“F” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A covering used to protect or disguise the face.

Corpus desk

Index EN-facemask · facemask · English

facemask · rank #67,430 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #67,430
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,507
  • PHOTO-FINISH fabricator

Nearest frequency peer: fabricator (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “facemask”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “facemask” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for facemask
PropertyValue
Headwordfacemask
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈfeɪs.mæsk/
Letters8
Frequency rank#67,430
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “facemask” in English

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).facemaskfalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Rare peers in the same band: “fabricator” (#67,429), “factionalism” (#67,431), “Fagin” (#67,432). Among 2,507 “F” headwords, “facemask” is #67,430. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

facemask is uncommon English at frequency #67,430 among 2,507 “F” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈfeɪs.mæsk/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 8 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for facemask in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From face + mask. The correct English form is facemask, spelled F-A-C-E-M-A-S-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    A covering used to protect or disguise the face.
  2. 2
    A covering used to protect or disguise the face.
  3. 3
    A covering used to protect or disguise the face.
  4. 4
    A covering used to protect or disguise the face.
  5. 5
    A covering used to protect or disguise the face.
  6. 6
    A facial mask (cosmetic application).
  7. 7
    The part of the helmet that directly covers the face, made of one or more plastic-coated metal bars.
  8. 8
    The foul of grasping it during play.

Etymology

From face + mask.

This word in other languages

máscara(Español)couvre-visage(Français)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "facemask"?
"facemask" is spelled F-A-C-E-M-A-S-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfeɪs.mæsk/.
What does "facemask" mean?
As a noun, "facemask" means: A covering used to protect or disguise the face.
How do you pronounce "facemask"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "facemask" is /ˈfeɪs.mæsk/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "facemask"?
From face + mask. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "facemask", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

falconry#67,436fuckhead#67,466Fujimori#67,467Gatineau#67,474

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list