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

Originally used in 16th-century England to describe a new idea in philosophy or religion, the term can be used to define almost anything, from a new sunscreen lotion to an mRNA vaccine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Australia's sunscreen regulator has proposed sweeping reforms to the industry after a recent scandal saw dozens of popular brands pulled off shelves.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 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

It’s a serious story coated in slippery sunscreen.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

The morning light glares off the white layer of sunscreen in an unnatural way so that I do look a little like a zombie freak, just like Edie said that day.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish