facial
Americanadjective
-
of the face.
facial expression.
-
for the face.
a facial cream.
noun
-
facials
plural
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.
See Examples For:
Are facial recognition cameras in shops a step too far?
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
It is not the first time a Sainsbury's facial recognition system - supplied by technology firm Facewatch - has led to an innocent shopper being challenged.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
The system relies on facial recognition and fingerprints instead of the age-old practice of getting your passport stamped at a booth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
A study published August 7 in the Cell Press journal iScience offers a closer look at what happens inside a dog's brain when it sees different human facial expressions.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
Wouldn’t facial recognition software think identical twins were the same person?
From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Animal-derived skin care products are gaining popularity, from salmon sperm facials to moisturizers made with beef tallow — the fat around a cow’s internal organs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
They have introduced a boutique spa for 2026 as they said demand for wellbeing activities continued to boom and it will offer treatment tents, facials and aromatherapy as "moments of serenity" for festival-goers.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
His firm, Leon Capital Group, even runs medical spas that help smooth the wrinkles of women and men seeking Botox treatments and fancy facials.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2026
I’m the person who books facials on vacation, who will try whatever’s trending this month, who drives to San Gabriel for a treatment a TikToker described as “gua sha on steroids.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 9, 2025
And somewhere deep down inside, even though it may seem hopeless now, I know I’ll still long for a day when Mama and I could do pedicures and facials and manicures together.
From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles
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.
