death mask

noun

: a cast taken from the face of a dead person

Examples of death mask in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Showcasing more than 5,300 objects from the young king’s tomb, including his iconic death mask and glittering royal regalia, the new section of the vast museum here on the outskirts of Cairo is expected to draw millions of visitors every year. Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025 The face, eerily reminiscent of Egyptian death masks or the metal face shields used in WWI, serves as both a personal relic and a universal symbol of mourning. Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025 The Chases are in the process of reconstructing the death mask and conducting DNA and stable isotope analysis of the skeleton. ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2025 Excavators also found a mosaic death mask made of jadeite, along with jewelry made from the same type of gemstone. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for death mask

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of death mask was in 1838

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Death mask.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/death%20mask. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on death mask

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!