shampoo
Americanverb (used with object)
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to wash (the head or hair), especially with a cleaning preparation that does not leave a soap film.
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to clean (rugs, upholstery, or the like) with a special preparation.
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Archaic. to massage.
noun
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the act of shampooing.
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a preparation used for shampooing, especially one that does not leave a soap film.
noun
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a liquid or cream preparation of soap or detergent to wash the hair
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a similar preparation for washing carpets, etc
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the process of shampooing
verb
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing shampoo
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.
"He was giving me cuddles when I put shampoo in his hair."
From BBC • May 6, 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
Yes, Rae’s hugging you now, and you can smell her coconut shampoo, and her maybe-a-little-teenybopperish-but-totally-works-for-her perfume, and even a little bit of the sweet sweat at her hairline.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
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.
