A mason is a skilled craftsperson who builds structures from individual pieces of brick, stone, or concrete blocks. Masons carefully lay each piece, using mortar (a thick paste that hardens like cement) to hold them together and create walls, chimneys, sidewalks, or entire buildings.

The work requires precision and patience. Each brick or stone must be level and properly spaced, or the whole structure could become weak or crooked. A mason uses special tools like trowels to spread mortar and levels to ensure everything lines up. Many of the world's most admired structures, from medieval castles to modern courthouses, showcase the artistry of talented masons.

Today, masons might specialize in different materials: a bricklayer works primarily with bricks, while a stonemason cuts and shapes natural stone into precise pieces. Some masons restore historic buildings, matching century-old techniques to preserve architectural treasures.

Masonry refers to the craft itself or to structures built this way. You might say “The building features beautiful stone masonry” or “My uncle learned masonry from his grandfather.” The Freemasons, a fraternal organization, took their name from medieval stonemason guilds, though modern Freemasons don't actually build with stone.