pimple
Americannoun
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pimples
plural
noun
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a small round usually inflamed swelling of the skin
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any of the bumps on the surface of a table tennis bat
Usage
What does pimple mean? A pimple is a small inflammation or swelling of the skin that may or may not be filled with pus. Pimples are caused by acne, a skin condition in which the skin’s sebaceous glands become clogged and inflamed. Pimples are most commonly found on the face, but they can appear on other areas of the skin, such as the neck and back. They are most common among teens and preteens due to changes in body chemistry during the period of development known as puberty, but adults can also get pimples. An even more informal term for a pimple is zit. The informal terms whitehead and blackhead are used to refer to specific kinds of pimples. Technical terms for types of pimples include pustule and papule. Example: My skin is naturally oily, so I have to buy a specific face wash to prevent pimples.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of pimple
1350–1400; Middle English, nasalized variant of Old English *pypel (whence pyplian to break out in pimples) < Latin papula pimple
Compare meaning
How does pimple compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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 notice, however, that the deal would bring together CNN and CBS News, never mind that news is financially a pimple and the last thing the Ellisons care about.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Among teens, other examples include the ongoing popularity of lip stains and brightly colored pimple patches.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 7, 2026
In males, it grows from a small cluster of cells into a little white pimple that elongates between the eyes.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2025
My first pimple was a defining moment in my life.
From Slate ● Feb. 22, 2025
My puffy nose isn’t exactly a pimple, but maybe the same strategy will work.
From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau
My face was also dotted with bright, red bites that accompanied my pubescent pimples.
From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2026
Just as Sagimet’s denifanstat blocks fat accumulation in the liver, it blocks the fatty acids that cause hair follicles to become pimples.
From Barron's ● Feb. 3, 2026
Tell-tale symptoms “include rash or unusual sores that look like pimples or pus-filled blisters on the face, body and genitals, fever, chills, headache, muscle aches or swelling of lymph nodes,” the L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2025
The lawyer noted that Omar needed attention for "pimples spreading on the skin - in the groin and buttocks due to the harsh prison conditions" including lack of toiletries and polluted water.
From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2025
The reason I asked was because Ackley never did anything on Saturday night, except stay in his room and squeeze his pimples or something.
From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger
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.
