nail polish

American  

noun

1. a polish of quick-drying lacquer, either clear or colored, used to paint the fingernails or toenails.

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nail polish British  

noun

1. a quick-drying lacquer applied to colour the nails or make them shiny or esp both

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Etymology

Origin of nail polish

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

That includes Anew Material, a company making nail polish that it says is free of petrochemicals and microplastics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

Bonus: they offer an impressive nail polish selection that’s easy to browse online, so you can choose your exact shade before you even arrive.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2026

Some have gone further, posting pictures of purple hearts, nail polish and even clothing in what has since been dubbed the "purple movement".

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2025

Then there’s the merchandise — not just the stuffed corgis or Penelope T-shirts but also Maxbone pet accessories, Allure Bridal dresses, Risque nail polish and Izzy and Liv’s newly launched Bridgerton line.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2024

She clicked one bottle of nail polish against another so that it made a tapping sound that filled the long silence.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies