suntan

American  

[suhn-tan] / ˈsʌnˌtæn /

noun

1. a browning or a brown color of the skin resulting from exposure to sunlight or a sunlamp; tan.

2. Also called mayfair tan, merida.  a light to medium yellow-brown.

3. Also called pastel orange.  a medium orange color.

---

verb (used with or without object)

suntanned, suntanning

1. tan.

suntan British  

/ ˈsʌnˌtæn /

noun

1. 1. Often shortened to: tan.  a brownish colouring of the skin caused by the formation of the pigment melanin within the skin on exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun or a sunlamp

   2. ( as modifier )

      suntan oil

---

Other Word Forms

• suntanned
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of suntan

First recorded in 1900–05; sun + tan ¹

Example Sentences

She says the current trend to create tan lines by burning in the sun, coupled with false claims that suntan lotion is responsible for the very cancer it's trying to prevent is a "perfect storm".

From BBC • Aug. 3, 2025

Marker, who also surfs, plays guitar and rides motorcycles, is 63 going on 16, with silver hair and a skate-park suntan.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2025

Douglas attributes the love to the fact that it “tastes like real ingredients that your body recognizes and resonates with, rather than many that might be cheaper but often taste like Coppertone suntan lotion smells.”

From Seattle Times • May 3, 2023

Donna Meehan of Melbourne, Fla., keeps a bottle of Coppertone suntan oil in her bag and takes a big sniff every time she needs a dose of summer.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2022

I thought I could cure diabetes by spreading suntan lotion on sticks of chewing gum.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

• beige
• brownish
• drab
• khaki