lipstick

American  

[lip-stik] / ˈlɪpˌstɪk /

noun

1. a crayonlike oil-based cosmetic used in coloring the lips, usually in a tubular container.

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lipstick British  

/ ˈlɪpˌstɪk /

noun

1. a cosmetic for colouring the lips, usually in the form of a stick

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Etymology

Origin of lipstick

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; lip + stick ¹

Explanation

Lipstick is makeup that makes your lips look darker, redder, or shinier. Your French teacher might be famous in your school for her heart-shaped glasses and bright pink lipstick. Some people like to wear lipstick every day, while others save it for fancy occasions. Most lipstick is a waxy, slightly creamy substance in a stick that's tinted with red pigment that colors your lips. It's a cosmetic that dates back at least to medieval times, and probably even farther back than that. In the 1600s, a fashionable look for upper class European women was a pale white face and bright red lipstick.

Example Sentences

So where am I supposed to check my lipstick, mister?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

Lunch boxes, board games, dolls, lipstick, blankets, pillows, pinball machines.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

The child they produced had different ideas and deep red lipstick is one of Wylie's trademarks.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

A year later, the alternative rock band Eve’s Plum, fronted by Colleen Fitzpatrick, conflated wearing lipstick with female voicelessness.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

Zohra wipes her lipstick off with a tissue, and it smears a bit, like clown makeup.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

Related Words

• paint