facial
Americanadjective
-
of the face.
facial expression.
-
for the face.
a facial cream.
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of facial
1600–10; 1910–15 facial for def. 3; < Medieval Latin faciālis. See face, -al 1
Explanation
When you describe something as facial, it has to do with the face. Your facial expression is the smile — or frown — that you happen to be wearing on your face. Your facial features are made up of your eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks — everything that together comprises your whole face. When you use the word facial as a noun, it means a spa treatment that usually includes a deep cleaning and moisturizing of the face. You might decide to get a massage and a facial at the fancy resort hotel where you're spending a relaxing week. The Medieval Latin root is facialis, "of the face," from facies, "figure, appearance, or countenance."
Vocabulary lists containing facial
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.
A facial treatment is one of my favorite self-care moments when I’m on the road.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026
Dr. John Walsh, a 57-year-old family physician in Cape Coral, Fla., was diagnosed with alpha-gal in November after having recurring episodes of facial swelling and breathing difficulties.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026
Rowley also called live facial recognition "the clearest example of what new technology can do", citing that the tech has "contributed to more than 2,000 arrests" since 2024.
From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026
The facial expressions that capture a child's attention may reveal important clues about their mental health.
From Science Daily • Jun. 17, 2026
We easily parse complex distinctions in facial expression.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
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.
