Mug is a word with several quite different meanings. It can mean a gullibleeasily fooled or tricked by other people person, a face in informal British and old-fashioned use, the amount a mug can hold, a robberystealing from someone using force or threat of force with violence, or a cup with a handlepart of a cup used for holding it.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /mʌɡ/
Easy pronunciation: MUG (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, with the vowel stressed.
This is the noun meaning a gullible person, not the cup, face, or verb meaning to rob.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Mug Meaning
an easy person to trick or cheat
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
Example: He felt like a mug after falling for the scam.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- chump — An informal word for someone easily fooled.
- fool — Works when the meaning is 'a person easily tricked.'
- gull — An old-fashioned or literary term for someone who is easily deceived.
- mark — Used for a person who is likely to be cheated, especially in scams.
- patsy — An informal word for someone who is easily exploited.
- soft touch — Someone who is easy to persuade to give money or help.
- sucker — A very common informal synonym for someone who is easy to fool.
- fall guy — Can mean a dupe or scapegoat; close here, but often implies being blamed rather than just fooled.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Mug
Meaning 2
someone's face
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the human face; an informal or British slang word for face
Example: He made a funny mug for the camera.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- kisser — Informal slang for face.
- smiler — Informal and less common slang for face.
- phiz — Old-fashioned British slang for face.
- countenance — A more formal word for face or facial expression.
- visage — A formal word for face.
Meaning 3
the amount a mug holds
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the quantity that can be held in a mug
Example: I only drank a mugful of tea.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- mugful — A direct synonym for the amount contained in a mug.
Meaning 4
to attack someone and steal from them
Part of speech: verb
Definition: rob at gunpoint or with the threat of violence
Example: She was mugged on her way home.
Meaning 5
a drinking cup with a handle
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a cup with a handle, usually cylindrical
Example: She poured coffee into a plain white mug.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Mug Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- chump
- fool
- mark
- patsy
- soft touch
- sucker
face
- kisser
- phiz
- smiler
- countenance
- visage
the amount a mug holds
- mugful
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse mug meaning 'a fool' with mug meaning 'face' or 'cup'.
- Mug as a verb means to rob someone, not to annoy them or insult them.
- The noun mug can also mean a drinking cup; that sense is separate from the slang meanings.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does mug mean in slang?
In slang, mug can mean a person who is easy to fool or take advantage of.
Is mug a noun or a verb?
It can be both. As a noun, it has several meanings, including 'fool,' 'face,' and 'cup.' As a verb, it means to rob someone with violence or threat.
What is the most common meaning of mug?
In everyday use, the most common meaning is usually a cup with a handle. In slang, it can also mean a gullible person.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.