1
capitalized
: the liturgy of the Eucharist (see eucharist sense 1) especially in accordance with the traditional Latin rite (see rite sense 1)
2
often capitalized
: a celebration of the Eucharist (see eucharist sense 1)
Sunday masses held at three different hours
3
: a musical setting for the ordinary of the Mass
Bach's Mass in B Minor
1
a
: a quantity or aggregate of matter usually of considerable size
c
: the property of a body that is a measure of its inertia and that is commonly taken as a measure of the amount of material it contains and causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
2
: a large quantity, amount, or number
a mass of material
3
a
: a large body of persons in a group
a mass of spectators
b
: the great body of the people as contrasted with the elite
—often used in plural
the underprivileged and disadvantaged masses—
C. A. Buss
C. A. Buss
massed; massing; masses
: to form or collect into a mass
: to assemble in a mass
three thousand students had massed in the plaza—A. E. Neville
A. E. Neville1
a
: of or relating to the mass of the people
mass market
b
: participated in by or affecting a large number of individuals
mass destruction
c
: having a large-scale character
mass plantings of tulips
2
: viewed as a whole : total
the mass effect of a design
Synonyms
Examples of mass in a Sentence
Noun (2)
the masses demanded the elimination of tax breaks for the rich
I have a mass of work to do tonight
a mass of leaves in a corner of the yard
when taking pictures, focus your attention on the mass of the main subject
believes that the great mass of voters are in the political center and consider themselves neither conservative nor liberal
a huge mass of people had gathered in the park to protest the government's latest policy
Verb
A large crowd of demonstrators massed outside the courthouse.
Clouds were massing on the horizon.
The generals massed their troops.
Adjective
Television is a mass medium.
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Kosnar, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Another 43 million have low bone mass, which is the precursor to osteoporosis.
—Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Christian Edwards, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024
Thousands of them had massed at the base for an unholy pilgrimage.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2024
Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
The dual proposals of a mass deportation and allowing local law enforcement to arrest those in the country illegally could have a chilling effect not only on immigrants in the country legally but also businesses looking to move to Arizona, Graham said.
—Emily Wilkins, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mass 
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.
Noun
Prosecutors said Filion targeted the Masjid Al Hayy Mosque and threatened to commit a mass shooting.
—Michael Kosnar, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Another 43 million have low bone mass, which is the precursor to osteoporosis.
—Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
Tens of thousands of Georgians massed outside the parliament on Monday night, calling for the annulment of Saturday’s parliamentary election that the opposition has said was rigged with Russia’s blessing.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024
Thousands of them had massed at the base for an unholy pilgrimage.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Trump, while still drawing crowds, does not have a track record post-2020 of organizing mass protests.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
The dual proposals of a mass deportation and allowing local law enforcement to arrest those in the country illegally could have a chilling effect not only on immigrants in the country legally but also businesses looking to move to Arizona, Graham said.
—Emily Wilkins, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mass
Dictionary Entries Near mass
Cite this Entry
“Mass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mass. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mass
1 of 4 noun1
capitalized
: a series of prayers and ceremonies forming the eucharistic service especially of the Roman Catholic Church
2
often capitalized
: a celebration of the Eucharist
3
: a musical setting for parts of the Mass
mass
2 of 4 noun1
a
: a quantity of matter or the form of matter that holds or clings together in one body
a mass of metal
b
: large size : bulk
c
: the principal part : main body
2
: the quantity of matter in a body
weight is the force on a mass due to gravity
3
: a large amount or number
4
plural
: the common people
mass
3 of 4 verb
: to form or collect into a mass
mass
4 of 4 adjective1
: of, relating to, or designed for the mass of the people
mass market
2
: participated in by or affecting a large number of individuals
mass demonstrations
Etymology
Noun
Old English mæsse "religious service," from Latin missa, literally "dismissal at the end of a religious service," derived from earlier missus, past participle of mittere "to send"
Noun
Middle English masse "a large body or quantity of material," from early French masse (same meaning), from Latin massa (same meaning), from Greek maza "mass"
Medical Definition
mass
noun1
: the property of a body that is a measure of its inertia, that is commonly taken as a measure of the amount of material it contains, that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field, and that along with length and time constitutes one of the fundamental quantities on which all physical measurements are based
2
: a homogeneous pasty mixture compounded for making pills, lozenges, and plasters
blue mass
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share