cosmetic

1 of 2

adjective

cos·​met·​ic käz-ˈme-tik How to pronounce cosmetic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or making for beauty especially of the complexion : beautifying
cosmetic salves
2
: done or made for the sake of appearance: such as
a
: correcting defects especially of the face
cosmetic surgery
c
: not substantive : superficial
cosmetic changes
3
: visually appealing
cosmetically adverb

cosmetic

2 of 2

noun

: something that is cosmetic: such as
a
: a cosmetic preparation for external use
b
cosmetics plural : superficial features
a poem without rhetorical cosmeticsGuy Davenport

Examples of cosmetic in a Sentence

Adjective Almond oil is sometimes used in cosmetic products. medical procedures that are done for cosmetic purposes The changes were purely cosmetic. Noun Use a cosmetic to hide the scar.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Her specialties include hair loss, cosmetic dermatology, hyperpigmentation, and skin of color. Cathryne Keller, SELF, 15 Mar. 2024 Eli Lilly will be unveiling a new campaign during this weekend’s Oscar awards event, with a clear message: These drugs aren’t meant to be used for cosmetic reasons. Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 8 Mar. 2024 These are cosmetic skin that players can use over their normal armor. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 As the newspaper reported, harsh lighting in one photo can sometimes be the catalyst of stories featuring plastic surgeons speculating about whether she's had additional cosmetic procedures. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 County officials have a deal with the Diamondbacks that allows the team to control spending on maintenance, but the current deal stops short of allocating taxpayer dollars for cosmetic renovations. Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 During pre-surgery on June 15, 2021, Seduction put paperwork in front of Russell stating that Sampson had plastic and cosmetic privileges at Coral Gables Hospital, 3100 Douglas Rd... David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 The study was also small, added Gary Goldenberg, MD, medical and cosmetic dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology and pathology at the Icahn Sinai School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Korin Miller, Health, 26 Feb. 2024 Now, a lawsuit filed Monday in Miami-Dade County court points out that Sampson shouldn’t have been cutting on anyone at the cosmetic center. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
Noun
Six years ago, a majority stake was acquired by Spanish giant Puig, owner of Carolina Herrera, Jean Paul Gaultier and Charlotte Tilbury cosmetics. Merle Ginsberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024 Unlike other ancient cosmetics, the vial’s concoction had a low lead content. Katie Hunt, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 At the time Lancôme said that women dream to be young and that advertisements for perfume and cosmetics are all about seduction, so that idea is associated with a younger woman, not a woman in her 40s. Lulu Garcia-Navarro, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 But tamanu oil, far from being toxic, is beneficial, thanks to its high fatty acid content, which aids in nourishing the skin, says cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline. Sophia Panych, Allure, 29 Feb. 2024 Suicide Squad, meanwhile, like Avengers, will offer its seasons and characters for free, selling only cosmetics. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 This phenomenon isn’t just anecdotal: In 2023, a survey by the investment bank Piper Sandler found that teen shoppers spent 19 percent more on skin care and 33 percent more on cosmetics than in the year prior. Elise Hu, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2024 This could include clothing, cookware and cosmetics. Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Mar. 2024 Who is Bernard Arnault of Louis Vuitton? Arnault oversees the LVMH empire of 75 fashion and cosmetics brands, including Louis Vuitton and Sephora, according to Forbes. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cosmetic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Greek kosmētikos skilled in adornment, from kosmein to arrange, adorn, from kosmos order

First Known Use

Adjective

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1650, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cosmetic was in 1638

Dictionary Entries Near cosmetic

Cite this Entry

“Cosmetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cosmetic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cosmetic

1 of 2 noun
cos·​met·​ic käz-ˈmet-ik How to pronounce cosmetic (audio)
: a preparation (as a cream, lotion, or powder) used to improve a person's appearance

cosmetic

2 of 2 adjective
: intended to improve a person's appearance

Medical Definition

cosmetic

1 of 2 noun
cos·​met·​ic käz-ˈmet-ik How to pronounce cosmetic (audio)
: a cosmetic preparation for external use

cosmetic

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or making for beauty especially of the complexion
cosmetic salves
2
: correcting defects especially of the face
cosmetic surgery
cosmetically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on cosmetic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!