mascot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to informal; common in sports, marketing, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “mascot” mean?
A person, animal, or object believed to bring good luck, or one used as a symbol to represent a group (especially a sports team, school, or organization).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, animal, or object believed to bring good luck, or one used as a symbol to represent a group (especially a sports team, school, or organization).
A character, often in costume, used for promotional purposes, entertainment, or to foster team spirit and identity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Equally positive, associated with team spirit, luck, and friendly representation.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, with high frequency in sports and commercial contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “mascot” in a Sentence
[team/organisation] + has + a + mascotThe + mascot + of + [team/organisation]serve as + a + mascotVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mascot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The club decided to mascot the local legend, having a volunteer dress as him for every match.
American English
- The company will mascot the new product with an animated robot character.
adjective
British English
- The mascot duties were shared among the drama students.
American English
- She wore a mascot costume for the homecoming parade.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A character used in advertising and branding to create a friendly, recognisable image for a company or product.
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing; may appear in sociological or marketing studies about symbolism and group identity.
Everyday
Commonly used when talking about sports teams, schools, festivals, or promotional events.
Technical
Used in marketing, branding, and sports management to refer to a designed character for engagement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mascot”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mascot”
- Using 'mascot' to mean a mask or disguise (confusion with 'mask').
- Using it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'We need mascot').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though it's less common. It means to serve as or provide with a mascot (e.g., 'The cartoon character was mascotted for the campaign').
It comes from the French 'mascotte', meaning a talisman or charm, which itself derived from Provençal 'masco', meaning witch.
No. While animals are common, mascots can be people, mythical creatures, objects, or abstract characters.
A logo is a static graphic symbol. A mascot is often a personified character that can be animated, performed by a person in costume, and interacted with.
A person, animal, or object believed to bring good luck, or one used as a symbol to represent a group (especially a sports team, school, or organization).
Mascot is usually neutral to informal; common in sports, marketing, and everyday contexts. in register.
Mascot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmæskɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmæskɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(as) cheerful/lively as a team mascot”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MASKed CAT (mascot) wearing a team jersey, bringing luck to players.
Conceptual Metaphor
A mascot is a guardian spirit / a living talisman.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'mascot' LEAST likely to be used?