sunblock

American  

[suhn-blok] / ˈsʌnˌblɒk /

Or sun block

noun

• sunblocks
  plural

1. a substance that provides a high degree of protection against sunburn, often preventing most tanning as well as burning, as by obstructing the penetration of ultraviolet rays.

2. a lotion, cream, etc., containing such a substance.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sunblocks
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of sunblock

First recorded in 1975–80; sun + block

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sunblock sunblocks

Teachers Cecile Hansen and Peter Helmkamp, who had traveled from Miami, Florida to attend the "Great American State Fair" recommended fans, sunblock, visors, and dipping into air conditioned cafes every 20 minutes.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

Jasso offered me water, sunblock, a hat and an orange, but I declined.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2024

This oily red secretion is not only a sunblock but also has antiseptic properties, helping to keep wounds clean and free from infection.

From Salon ● Mar. 22, 2024

Darker skin tones, prevalent in equatorial regions, serve as nature's very own sunblock, evolving over millennia to shield these populations from the sun's intense ultraviolet radiation.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 12, 2024

Right then, he was squirting big globs of sunblock onto his hands and rubbing it into his brown skin until the white lotion disappeared.

From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks

Hawaii’s ban leaves producers with two options: continue offering chemical sunscreens without oxybenzone and octinoxate or switch over to natural, mineral-based sunblocks.

From Slate ● May 7, 2018

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