mascara

American  

[ma-skar-uh, ma-skahr-uh] / mæˈskær ə, mæˈskɑr ə /

noun

mascaras plural

1. a substance used as a cosmetic to color the eyelashes and eyebrows.

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verb (used with object)

1. to apply mascara to.

mascara British  

/ mæˈskɑːrə /

noun

1. a cosmetic substance for darkening, colouring, and thickening the eyelashes, applied with a brush or rod

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mascaras
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mascara

1885–90; < Spanish: mask; see mask

Explanation

Mascara is makeup that makes your eyelashes look longer and thicker. If you wear mascara while watching a really sad movie, you may end up with black smudges under your eyes. Some people wear mascara every day, to darken their lashes or accent their eyes. Others save mascara — along with lipstick and eye shadow — for special occasions. Some form of mascara has been around for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Egypt, when kohl was used to color eyelashes. In English, this cosmetic was called mascaro from the 1880s until the 1920s, from the Italian word maschera, or "mask."

Example Sentences

Then she curls her lashes and applies mascara and lip gloss.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

She orders groceries, sanitary napkins and cosmetics like mascara, saving herself a weekly grocery-store run.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

“Is my mascara running?” she asks Ray after emerging victorious.

From Salon • Oct. 21, 2025

They’ve even found their way into makeup; Hailey Bieber’s brand Rhode released a popular peptide-packed lip tint last year, and you can find them in mascara, eye shadow, blush … the list goes on.

From Slate • May 4, 2025

The mascara has smudged again, despite Moira’s repairs, the purplish lipstick has bled, hair trails aimlessly.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood