earwax

American

[eer-waks] / ˈɪərˌwæks /

noun

a yellowish, waxlike secretion from certain glands in the external auditory canal; cerumen.

earwax British

/ ˈɪəˌwæks /

noun

the nontechnical name for cerumen

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of earwax

First recorded in 1350–1400, earwax is from the Middle English word erewax. See ear ¹, wax ¹

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.

"Apparently they're used to scoop out your earwax, as if your fingernail won't do," she said.

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2025

Eventually, Dr. Hocker said, additional DNA testing will provide intimate details about the crew found on the Vasa, down to whether they had freckles or wet or dry earwax.

From New York Times • Apr. 8, 2023

A key limitation of apps and online tests is that they can’t rule out potentially reversible causes of hearing loss, such as excess earwax, the way an audiologist would during an in-person test.

From Washington Post • Sep. 12, 2022

And if it makes you feel better, the paper used to be dipped in earwax.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2022

Maybe he’ll let me borrow a bike—or create a work-around out of bubblegum and earwax.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023