pimple
Americannoun
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.
Lee, 55, said unmanaged cholesterol levels and high blood pressure were likely contributors to the stroke, plus the stress of balancing her real-life practice with the demands of “Dr. Pimple Popper.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
Long before TLC rebranded from The Learning Channel to the home of Honey Boo-Boo and "Dr. Pimple Popper," Springer drained the human soul's pus before raving studio audiences to slake the guilty pleasure of millions.
From Salon • Apr. 28, 2023
The merger will bring together HBO original content like “Game of Thrones” and “Succession” with Discovery reality shows like “Property Brothers” and “Dr. Pimple Popper.”
From Washington Times • Apr. 12, 2023
It was revealed she was an avid watcher of YouTube videos on blackhead removal and Dr Pimple Popper and had watched more than 300 clips between October 2019 and August 2021.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2022
At first goods and damage was paid for by Pimple; but soon they began lording it around and taking what they wanted.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.
