cosmetic

7 synonyms and 1 antonym for cosmetic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Relating to improving or enhancing appearance, especially of the skin or face.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

makeup

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

superficial ornamental decorative

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

beautifying surface-level enhancive

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Relating to improving or enhancing appearance, especially of the skin or face.

“She had cosmetic surgery to reshape her nose.”

beautifying superficial surface-level makeup enhancive ornamental decorative

2. adj

Affecting only surface appearance rather than anything substantial.

“The company's changes were purely cosmetic — the underlying problems remained.”

Opposites

functional

How to use cosmetic

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

cosmetic surgery cosmetic change purely cosmetic

Etymology

From Greek kosmetikos, "skilled in ordering or decorating," from kosmos, meaning "order" or "adornment."

Full origin of cosmetic →

Frequently asked questions

What does “cosmetic” mean?

The word “cosmetic” means relating to improving or enhancing appearance, especially of the skin or face. In plain terms, to do with beauty products, or describing a fix that only changes appearances, not substance.

How do you pronounce “cosmetic”?

“Cosmetic” is pronounced koz-MEH-tihk (/kɑzˈmɛt.ɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “cosmetic” in a sentence?

Here is “cosmetic” used in a sentence: “She had cosmetic surgery to reshape her nose.”

What part of speech is “cosmetic”?

Depending on how it is used, “cosmetic” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “cosmetic” come from?

The word “cosmetic” comes from Greek. From Greek kosmetikos, "skilled in ordering or decorating," from kosmos, meaning "order" or "adornment.".

Is “cosmetic” a common word?

“Cosmetic” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “cosmetic” have?

“Cosmetic” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to improving or enhancing appearance, especially of the skin or face.

What is the difference between cosmetic and cosmetics?

Cosmetic is an adjective describing something related to enhancing appearance, or a noun for a single beautifying product, while cosmetics is the plural noun referring to the whole category of makeup and beauty products collectively.

What does cosmetic mean when it is not about makeup?

Cosmetic can also describe something that affects only surface appearance rather than anything substantial, such as a 'cosmetic change' that looks different but doesn't alter how something actually functions.

What is cosmetic surgery?

Cosmetic surgery refers to surgical procedures aimed at improving or enhancing a person's appearance, such as the skin or face, rather than treating a medical condition.

People also searched

makeup functional decorative superficial ornamental beautifying

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of cosmetic