sunscreen

American  

[suhn-skreen] / ˈsʌnˌskrin /

Or sun screen

noun

1. a substance formulated to prevent sunburn, skin cancers, and other conditions caused by excessive exposure to the sun, usually by absorbing and reflecting ultraviolet radiation.

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

3. a latticework or similar construction to shield a patio, atrium, or the like, from direct sunlight.

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sunscreen British  

/ ˈsʌnˌskriːn /

noun

1. a cream or lotion applied to exposed skin to protect it from the ultraviolet rays of the sun

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Etymology

Origin of sunscreen

First recorded in 1730–40; sun + screen

Example Sentences

She applied moisturizing eye cream, face cream and sunscreen before sending me off.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

He once dredged up 17 rings in a single day by sweeping the ocean bottom in a spot where tourists, well into their tequila sunrises, routinely launch themselves off catamarans, their fingers slick with sunscreen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

Between packing passports and sunscreen, he has been checking the State Department travel advisory pages often, which lists Morocco as a level 2 risk — exercise caution.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026

They had no adult actors on set to learn from, and lots of sunscreen and insect repellent was required.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Instead I’m locked in a small room that smells like chorizo and stale popcorn while my archenemy continues to brainwash the community with reggaeton and free sunscreen.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya