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Synonyms

shampoo

American  
[sham-poo] / ʃæmˈpu /

verb (used with object)

shampooed, shampooing

  1. to wash (the head or hair), especially with a cleaning preparation that does not leave a soap film.

  2. to clean (rugs, upholstery, or the like) with a special preparation.

  3. Archaic. to massage.

noun

  1. the act of shampooing.

  2. a preparation used for shampooing, especially one that does not leave a soap film.

shampoo British  
/ ʃæmˈpuː /

noun

  1. a liquid or cream preparation of soap or detergent to wash the hair

  2. a similar preparation for washing carpets, etc

  3. the process of shampooing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to wash (the hair, etc) with such a preparation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • shampooer noun

Etymology

Origin of shampoo

1755–65; earlier champo to massage < an inflected form of Hindi cāmpnā literally, to press

Explanation

Got dirty hair? Get yourself some shampoo and jump in the shower! Shampoo is soap made especially for washing hair. Use shampoo for the liquid soap itself, or for the act of using it: "I don't have time for a shampoo, so I'll wear my favorite cowboy hat." It's also a verb: "I love the way my hair smells after I shampoo it!" You can also shampoo a carpet—or a dog. Shampoo originally meant "to massage," stemming from a Hindi root, champo, "press or knead muscles."

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Vocabulary lists containing shampoo

English Words Derived from Hindi

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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.

And don’t get me started about combination shampoo and conditioner.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Think former NFL star Troy Polamalu, who has been featured in Head & Shoulders shampoo commercials showing off his hair.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

Here we are again, having washed, rinsed and repeated the process with the same shampoo in a different scent.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2026

But among the market’s priciest names today are not just artificial-intelligence darlings but also discount retailers and shampoo makers — a sign that even defensive trades may be now getting expensive.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

He lays down a few lines about how all the boys are jealous of his hair and need to try his shampoo.

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée

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.