zit
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does zit mean? Zit is a slang term for a pimple—a small inflammation or swelling of the skin that may or may not be filled with pus. Zits are caused by acne, a skin condition in which the skin’s sebaceous glands become clogged and inflamed. They’re most commonly found on the face, but they can appear on other areas of the skin, such as the neck and back. They are most common among teens and preteens due to changes in body chemistry during the period of development known as puberty, but adults can also get zits. The informal terms whitehead and blackhead are used to refer to specific kinds of zits. Technical terms for types of zits include pustule and papule. Example: My skin is naturally oily, so I have to buy a specific face wash to prevent zits.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of zit
First recorded in 1960–65; origin uncertain
Compare meaning
How does zit compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A zit is a pimple. This is a slang term for those little inflamed bumps of skin no one wants. If you have acne, you're likely to have zits: little raised areas of your skin that are usually filled with pus. Your doctor will call those little bumps pimples, but many people call them zits, which is an informal, slangy word. Teenagers tend to get a lot of zits: it's one of the difficult parts of adolescence. It seems like a new zit always pops up at the worst possible time, like right before prom.
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:
Residents in Stockbridge have dubbed the structure an "enormous zit", blighting the views of the area's picturesque Georgian architecture.
From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2025
She informed her followers that it was covering a tumor that she previously believed was a zit that didn’t budge for seven months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2023
I have this very large zit on my nose, coffee’s quite bitter, rain keeps falling.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 23, 2022
A canceled date, another detention, an ill-timed zit: When you’re in high school, any number of problems can make it feel like the end of the world has arrived.
From New York Times ● Apr. 17, 2020
But I was eleven when I got my first zit.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
"They never picked their noses or had bowel movements or zits," she said in the beginning of her story.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2025
Carol is a classic undermining parent, smiling brightly while nitpicking her child's efforts to apply concealer to her zits, and Sheedy plays her like a length of barbed wire brought to life.
From Salon ● Jan. 21, 2022
Realistic class-focused drama shows teen life, zits and all.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 28, 2021
“Maskne,” for the pesky zits popping up under our masks.
From New York Times ● Dec. 24, 2020
I met a cool aunt and her nice roommate, and I might not have seen Wicked, or my own reflection without new zits, but it was still an adventure.
From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
