'mask-wearer' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'mask' + agentive element 'wearer' (from the verb 'wear'), where 'mask' originally referred to a facial covering and 'wearer' denotes 'one who wears'.

'mask' entered English via French 'masque' and Italian 'maschera' (from Medieval Latin/maybe Late Latin), and 'wear' comes from Old English 'werian' / 'wǣran' meaning 'to clothe or put on'; the agentive suffix '-er' developed in Middle English to form nouns like 'wearer'. The compound 'mask-wearer' is a modern formation that became more commonly used in the 20th and 21st centuries, especially during public-health events (e.g., epidemics, pandemics).

Originally, 'mask' mainly meant a covering for disguise, ritual, or performance; over time it broadened to include protective face coverings (medical/filtration). Consequently, 'mask-wearer' has come to specifically denote someone who wears such protective face coverings in public or clinical contexts.