cosmetic
adjective
cos·met·ic
| \ käz-ˈme-tik
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Definition of cosmetic
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: of, relating to, or making for beauty especially of the complexion : beautifying
cosmetic salves
2
: done or made for the sake of appearance: such as
a
: correcting defects especially of the face
cosmetic surgery
b
: decorative, ornamental
c
: not substantive : superficial
cosmetic changes
3
: visually appealing
cosmetic
nounDefinition of cosmetic (Entry 2 of 2)
: something that is cosmetic: such as
a
: a cosmetic preparation for external use
b
cosmetics plural
: superficial features
a poem without rhetorical cosmetics— Guy Davenport
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Other Words from cosmetic
Adjective
cosmetically
\ käz-ˈme-ti-k(ə-)lē
\
adverb
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adverb
Synonyms & Antonyms for cosmetic
Synonyms: Adjective
adorning, beautifying, decorative, embellishing, ornamental
Antonyms: Adjective
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Examples of cosmetic in a Sentence
Adjective
Almond oil is sometimes used in cosmetic products. medical procedures that are done for cosmetic purposes The changes were purely cosmetic.Noun
Use a cosmetic to hide the scar.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Insurance company MassMutual’s health care plan, for instance, includes coverage for cosmetic surgeries that some transgender people need to alleviate dysphoria such as facial feminization and Adam’s apple reduction. — Allison Hagan, BostonGlobe.com, "Many LGBTQ employees aren’t comfortable at work. Some Mass. companies are trying to change that," 29 Aug. 2019 The search among the different cosmetic company cubicles/stations did not go well. — John Horgan, The Mercury News, "Horgan: A cosmetics conundrum: a stranger in a strange land," 28 Aug. 2019 County engineer Bob Frances said much of the damage appeared cosmetic and non-load-bearing. — Lillian Reed, baltimoresun.com, "Columbia explosion aftermath: Destruction of some businesses leaves owners devastated," 26 Aug. 2019 Invisalign is a purely cosmetic fix, not a structural one. — Summer Block, Longreads, "Better Late," 23 Aug. 2019 Hoak now assumes the primary backup spot with the (for now, theoretical) benefit of two weeks spent in a position battle, even a cosmetic one. — cleveland.com, "Justin Fields officially named Ohio State’s starting quarterback: Buckeyes football news," 19 Aug. 2019 After 20 years, some landlords are maintaining properties to pass the test, addressing cosmetic issues while leaving underlying problems unchecked. — Danielle Ohl, ProPublica, "Trump Called Baltimore “Vermin Infested” While the Federal Government Fails to Clean Up Rodents in Subsidized Housing," 14 Aug. 2019 Founded by Charles Lusk, Dent-Well provides general dentistry along with select cosmetic services, plus Invisalign orthodontics. — Katherine Feser, Houston Chronicle, "Retail wrap: Tim Ho Wan, M.M.LaFleur, Crawfish Café, Kelsey-Seybold sign up for new spots," 2 Aug. 2019 Johnson’s wife, Eunice, further expanded the Johnson Publishing empire in her own right, through the launch of additional businesses such as an annual fashion show and a cosmetic line. — Jackie Mansky, Smithsonian, "Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch Weighs In on Legendary Photo Archive of African-American Life," 26 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
There’s a wealth of upgrades in Youngblood, from ability and weapon upgrades to cosmetics that change the way your character looks. — Matthew Gault, Time, "Wolfenstein: Youngblood Review: Grab a Pal and Fight Some Nazis," 12 Aug. 2019 From candies to cosmetics to pet products, CBD is expanding to new product categories. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, chicagotribune.com, "Buyer beware: CBD products could be this century’s snake oil," 23 July 2019 But her grandiose entrance into cosmetics doesn't end there, as Gaga will also be going live on a video stream today to walk her fans through all of the products. — Thatiana Diaz, refinery29.com, "How To Watch Lady Gaga's Amazon Prime Day Livestream," 15 July 2019 From candies to cosmetics to pet products, CBD is expanding to new product categories. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, sun-sentinel.com, "Buyer beware: CBD products could be this century’s snake oil," 7 June 2019 Many products made in China, from cosmetics to digital cameras, have been slowly gravitating to Mexico following a series of tariffs imposed on Chinese exports. — Santiago Pérez, WSJ, "Trump’s Mexico Tariff Threat Trips Up Manufacturers Shifting Out of China," 2 June 2019 The Gyllenhaals are basically the Park Slope, Brooklyn, version of the Kardashians, obsessed with stories instead of cosmetics. — Belinda Luscombe, Time, "In a New Broadway Play, Jake Gyllenhaal Attempts Something Radical: Normalcy," 8 Aug. 2019 Sales of cosmetics, which includes makeup, lipsticks, nail polish and eye shadow, have grown 31% in the United States since 2013 to more than $17 billion last year, according to Euromonitor. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, "Dollar General has a new beauty brand for under $5 and it's going viral," 31 July 2019 Then in 2015, India entered into an agreement that made the import of cosmetics from South Korea free. — Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, "Flipkart says Indians are adding Korean beauty products to their carts like never before," 25 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cosmetic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for cosmetic
cosmetic
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of cosmetic
(Entry 1 of 2)
: used or done in order to improve a person's appearance
: done in order to make something look better
: not important or meaningful
cosmetic
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of cosmetic (Entry 2 of 2)
: a substance (such as a cream, lotion, or powder) that you put on your face or body to improve your appearance
See the full definition for cosmetic in the English Language Learners Dictionary
cosmetic
noun
cos·met·ic
| \ käz-ˈmet-ik
\
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