greasepaint

British  

/ ˈɡriːsˌpeɪnt /

noun

1. a waxy or greasy substance used as make-up by actors

2. theatrical make-up

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Explanation

The bright, waxy makeup that stage actors use is called greasepaint. When you land your dream role in your school's production of Cats you'll have to wear lots of greasepaint to look like a tabby. The invention of greasepaint is credited to a German opera singer and chemist, Ludwig Leichner. Leichner's greasepaint was closely related to the pomatums (or waxy hair products) of the time, and developed to add highlights and shadows to actors' faces that could be seen from the audience despite the bright stage lighting. Before the common use of stage lights, stage makeup was most often made of powder.

Example Sentences

Mr. Cameron calls his motion-capture tech “digital makeup,” but it’s such heavy greasepaint that it’s hard to guess who’s under it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

And perhaps we should have realised these movie moguls' commitment would not wear off with the greasepaint.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2023

You know the wonderful old lovey actors, slightly predatory thespians, who did long, long warmups and taught me how to use greasepaint — which we were still using in 1983.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2020

First seen weaving through a row of empty chairs, booming out the names of Welsh towns he visited on his healing tours, he exudes the stale aroma of an old-time vaudevillian’s greasepaint.

From New York Times • Sep. 20, 2020

Hector tosses the powder-covered handkerchief onto a table littered with brushes and tins of greasepaint.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• acrylic
• color
• cosmetic
• dye
• enamel
• latex
• makeup
• oil
• pigment
• stain
• varnish
• wax