eyeliner

American

[ahy-lahy-ner] / ˈaɪˌlaɪ nər /

noun

a cosmetic for the eyelids, usually applied in a thin line close to the lashes to accentuate the eyes.

eyeliner British

/ ˈaɪˌlaɪnə /

noun

a cosmetic used to outline the eyes

"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 eyeliner

First recorded in 1955–60; eye + liner 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.

My goth uniform included black Maybelline eyeliner I used a lighter to heat the tip with before application.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

But Vance wasn’t wearing any eyeliner that day and didn’t engage in such drama.

From Salon • Jan. 16, 2026

“I never thought I would get plastic surgery,” said Caruso, who opted in after noticing that her eyeliner no longer showed up on her eyes due to hooding.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

As well as her work in film, Bardot will also be remembered as a fashion icon, with her blonde tousled hair and bold eyeliner setting beauty trends worldwide.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

Or that he'd started putting eyeliner on with his thumb.

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell

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