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
Mike Allen, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
My favorite results of 2024 are the measurements of the mass fluctuations from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope and from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instruments.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024
Thousands of demonstrators who confronted the military and massed around parliament overnight demanded Yoon step down, with some calling for his arrest.
—Rafi Schwartz, theweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
The American construction industry is on edge as President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations looms, potentially impacting building costs and labor availability.
—Matt Galka, Baltimore Sun, 25 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mass 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
The request was for Payton Gendron, the white gunman who killed 10 Black people in a mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York.
—Mike Allen, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
My favorite results of 2024 are the measurements of the mass fluctuations from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope and from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instruments.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
The bottom line: Hall won't miss trying to mass produce his cider.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024
Thousands of demonstrators who confronted the military and massed around parliament overnight demanded Yoon step down, with some calling for his arrest.
—Rafi Schwartz, theweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
The Gun Violence Archive has recorded over 480 cases of mass shootings in the U.S. throughout 2024.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
The American construction industry is on edge as President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations looms, potentially impacting building costs and labor availability.
—Matt Galka, Baltimore Sun, 25 Dec. 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 30 Dec. 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
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