cosmetic
Americannoun
-
cosmetics
plural
-
a powder, lotion, lipstick, rouge, or other preparation for beautifying the face, skin, hair, nails, etc.
-
cosmetics, superficial measures to make something appear better, more attractive, or more impressive.
The budget committee opted for cosmetics instead of a serious urban renewal plan.
adjective
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serving to beautify; imparting or improving beauty, especially of the face.
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used or done superficially to make something look better, more attractive, or more impressive.
Alterations in the concert hall were only cosmetic and did nothing to improve the acoustics.
noun
adjective
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serving or designed to beautify the body, esp the face
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having no other function than to beautify
cosmetic illustrations in a book
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derogatory designed to cover up a greater flaw or deficiency; superficial
their resignation is a cosmetic exercise
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of cosmetic
1595–1605; < Greek kosmētikós relating to adornment, equivalent to kosmēt ( ós ) adorned, arranged (verbid of kosmeîn, derivative of kósmos order, arrangement) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
Cosmetic refers to how something or someone looks. Visit the cosmetics department of a store if you are looking to buy lipstick, and visit a cosmetic surgeon if you are looking to buy new lips. The word cosmetic has to do with beauty and appearance. Cosmetic surgery makes someone look better, but isn't necessary medically, like heart surgery. A cosmetic change to a building only changes the building’s appearance. Cosmetic often means the same as decorative or ornamental. Also, cosmetics are items used to adorn, especially women, such as nail polish, lipstick, and eyeliner. All uses of cosmetic have to do with what's on the outside, not what's on the inside.
Vocabulary lists containing cosmetic
Elements of the Universe: Cosm, Cosmo ("Universe")
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Locomotion
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Interpreter of Maladies
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He came to Longhua to pray for success in his job managing a livestream selling cosmetic products online.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Sunscreen is regulated as a cosmetic in Europe, leading to more variety than in the U.S., which classifies it as an over-the-counter drug.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Castillo pledged Thursday to continue her focus on animals and cosmetic genetic engineering.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Emilie Vanpoperingh, co-founder of Oddbox, a subscription company that sells surplus produce that supermarkets reject, said it is "purely a cosmetic defect" and the plants taste exactly the same.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
When the results came up, there was a lot to sift through — everything from movies and TV shows to role-playing games, underground metal, and gothic cosmetic companies.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
Earlier this year in March, American luxury cosmetics maker Estée Lauder fully acquired, external the homegrown ayurvedic company Forest Essentials.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Separately, the EBU revealed that Israeli cosmetics company Moroccan Oil had ended its sponsorship of Eurovision after six years.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Some cosmetics, medicines and supplements contain gelatin, animal fats, alcohol or other ingredients whose origins matter to observant consumers.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
Amin discusses how he transformed a discount internet cosmetics company into a multibillion-dollar beauty powerhouse over the last 12 years, the brand’s success on TikTok and the $1 billion acquisition of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Skincare.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
She reached for a plastic tray of cosmetics, the compacts clicking and bumping against each other as she dug for the right color.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
