kohl
noun
a powder, as finely powdered antimony sulfide, used as a cosmetic to darken the eyelids, eyebrows, etc.
kohl
1 American
[kohl]
/ koʊl /
noun
Kohl
2
American
[kohl]
/ koʊl /
noun
Kohl
1
British
/ kəʊl /
noun
kohl
2
British
/ kəʊl /
noun
Etymology
Origin of kohl
1790–1800; < Arabic kohl, variant of kuhl. See alcohol
Explanation
Kohl is a dark powder that's used as eye makeup. When you dress up for a fancy event, you might add a dramatic line of kohl along the top of your eyelid. Kohl is an especially familiar cosmetic in South Asia, the Middle East, and various parts of Africa. It's commonly associated with India, where it's used by women, as well as some men and children. Kohl is worn in several Indian states as part of religious festivals, and in others it's frequently applied to babies' eyes. Historians have traced kohl back at least as far as 3100 BCE, when it was applied to the eyes of Egyptian queens.
Vocabulary lists containing kohl
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:
They were MTV staples for grimy videos like “Breathe” and “Firestarter,” where the dual-mohawked singer/dancer Keith Flint skulked around an empty subway tunnel, sneering in kohl eyeliner and an American flag sweater.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2025
The same goes for surma, another rendition of kohl that’s commonly worn by Muslim men in South Asian countries.
From Salon ● Dec. 8, 2023
As readers twist open their liner applicator, they’ll be reminded of the Wodaabe men who wear kohl to enhance their appearance and attract a partner in a ritual ceremony.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 8, 2023
The walls of one room were covered with photographs of her in full kumari regalia, a small girl with brightly painted lips and eyes lined with kohl.
From New York Times ● Jul. 15, 2022
Bree wheels out trays that hold hairbrushes and combs, hot irons and steam curlers, rouge-stick canisters, tiny pots of skin-tone paste, paintbrushes, and various kohl pencils.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
When Helmut Kohl pushed for France and the U.K. to bless reunification, he offered to limit the country’s military.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
“The accusation is absurd,” said Jean-Philippe Kohl, deputy director and head of economic policy at Swissmem, an industry trade body.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Kohl realized: If the winds turn, this fire could go anywhere.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2025
He spoke to the Kohl Center crowd at halftime while joined by Moore’s brother and parents.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 2, 2024
“You had a reason for gleaning Kohl Whitlock....”
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
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.
