lipstick

American  

[lip-stik] / ˈlɪpˌstɪk /

noun

1. a crayonlike oil-based cosmetic used in coloring the lips, usually in a tubular container.

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lipstick British  

/ ˈlɪpˌstɪk /

noun

1. a cosmetic for colouring the lips, usually in the form of a stick

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Etymology

Origin of lipstick

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; lip + stick ¹

Explanation

Lipstick is makeup that makes your lips look darker, redder, or shinier. Your French teacher might be famous in your school for her heart-shaped glasses and bright pink lipstick. Some people like to wear lipstick every day, while others save it for fancy occasions. Most lipstick is a waxy, slightly creamy substance in a stick that's tinted with red pigment that colors your lips. It's a cosmetic that dates back at least to medieval times, and probably even farther back than that. In the 1600s, a fashionable look for upper class European women was a pale white face and bright red lipstick.

Example Sentences

The model riffs on Bessette’s minimalist look, wearing red lipstick, a simple gray cardigan and black pants.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Hints of pink eye shadow, dark eyeliner, red pigmented eyebrows and crimson lipstick complete the transformation — the next “national treasure” has taken the stage.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

The child they produced had different ideas and deep red lipstick is one of Wylie's trademarks.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

It’s 1981, and Quatro, a pint-sized, leather-clad, four-string-plucking badass, may be the first to feature lipstick in a music video.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

Soon she would be getting taller, shedding her baby fat, and wanting to wear lipstick.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Related Words

• paint