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  • SPF
    SPF
    abbreviation
    sun protection factor: the effectiveness of a sunscreen in protecting the skin from the sun's ultraviolet UVB radiation, as rated on a scale of increasing protectiveness, the number being the ratio of the radiation dose needed to produce minimal redness when using sunscreen compared to the dose needed to produce the same redness without sunscreen.
  • S.P.F.
    S.P.F.
    abbreviation
    vet science specific pathogen free; denoting animals specially bred to ensure that they are free of specified diseases

SPF

American  

abbreviation

  1. sun protection factor: the effectiveness of a sunscreen in protecting the skin from the sun's ultraviolet UVB radiation, as rated on a scale of increasing protectiveness, the number being the ratio of the radiation dose needed to produce minimal redness when using sunscreen compared to the dose needed to produce the same redness without sunscreen.

    An SPF of 15 will allow you to stay in the sun 15 times longer.


SPF 1 British  

abbreviation

  1. sender policy framework: a mechanism designed to prevent an e-mail address being duplicated and used as a false address from which to send unsolicited e-mails

  2. sun protection factor: an indicator of how effectively a sun cream, lotion, cosmetic, etc, protects the skin from the harmful rays of the sun

    SPF 25

"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

S.P.F. 2 British  

abbreviation

  1. vet science specific pathogen free; denoting animals specially bred to ensure that they are free of specified diseases

"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

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:

It will stop becoming entertaining when every survivor has to wear SPF sunscreen rated at least 1,000 just to take out the trash.

From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026

Use high-protection sunscreen - at least SPF 30 - as a base before the make-up and let it soak in like any primer, says Wedgeworth.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

For many foundations and powders, you would need to use several more layers than you normally would to achieve the advertised SPF protection, Mount Sinai dermatologist Dr. Helen He said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

Once they are six months old, the NHS recommends using a sunscreen rated at least 50 SPF which offers high levels of protection from both UVA and UVB.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

“Don’t you know anything about SPF? Skin cancer?”

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

I’m so white I’m almost translucent Check out the S.P.F.

From New York Times ● Apr. 9, 2020

But as unappealing as a leafy Tostitos lime cocktail with hints of S.P.F.

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 21, 2015

However, the Food and Drug Administration has not determined that an S.P.F. of more than 50 has any added benefits.

From New York Times ● Jun. 29, 2015

Some consumers erroneously believe that choosing a more expensive sunscreen with a sky-high S.P.F. number like 70 or 100 will provide complete protection.

From New York Times ● Jun. 29, 2015

Dermatologists have long cautioned people not to rely too heavily on sunscreens, even products with the recommended S.P.F. rating of 30 or higher for summer sun protection.

From New York Times ● Jun. 29, 2015

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