noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

tattoo

ta-TOO

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Tattoo (noun) means a permanent design made on the skin by injecting ink with a needle. Example: “He designed a tattoo of a mountain range for his shoulder.”

noun

A permanent design made on the skin by injecting ink with a needle.

"He designed a tattoo of a mountain range for his shoulder."

"She got a small tattoo of a swallow on her wrist."

"His arm was covered in colourful tattoos."

A military drumming or bugle signal, or a public display of military music and marching.

"The band played a stirring tattoo as the soldiers marched past."

"We bought tickets for the tattoo at the castle this summer."

"Crowds gathered to watch the Edinburgh Military Tattoo."

verb

To mark someone's skin permanently with such a design.

"She plans to tattoo a tiny star on her ankle."

"The artist carefully tattooed a rose onto his forearm."

"He had his son's name tattooed above his heart."

How to use tattoo

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA permanent skin marking made with ink and needle — unrelated in origin to the military-parade sense, which is a coincidental homonym.

Common mistake

The military "tattoo" (a drum signal or parade) comes from a completely different root (Dutch taptoe) than the skin-marking sense, despite the identical spelling.

Common pairings

get a tattoo tattoo artist military tattoo

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: tattoos, tattooes
Third person singular: tattoos
Past tense: tattooed

Test yourself on “tattoo” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He designed a _____ of a mountain range for his shoulder.

Etymology

Borrowed via English sailors from a Polynesian word (Samoan tatau), which itself meant both "to strike" and "tattoo," reflecting how the ink was traditionally tapped into the skin.

Synonyms

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ink tat body art mark etching

Related words

line attention note sign mark spot target brand

Rhymes for tattoo

oo too moo poo loo foo doo boo woo roo coo goo

See all rhymes for tattoo →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tattoo” mean?

The word “tattoo” means a permanent design made on the skin by injecting ink with a needle. In plain terms, a permanent skin marking made with ink and needle — unrelated in origin to the military-parade sense, which is a coincidental homonym.

How do you pronounce “tattoo”?

“Tattoo” is pronounced ta-TOO ([tʰæˈtʰʉw] in IPA).

How do you use “tattoo” in a sentence?

Here is “tattoo” used in a sentence: “She got a small tattoo of a swallow on her wrist.”

What part of speech is “tattoo”?

Depending on how it is used, “tattoo” can be a noun and a verb.

Is “tattoo” a common word?

“Tattoo” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “tattoo” have?

“Tattoo” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a permanent design made on the skin by injecting ink with a needle.

What is the plural of tattoo?

The plural of "tattoo" is "tattoos," formed simply by adding -s. It does not take an apostrophe, so "three tattoos" is correct and "three tattoo's" is not.

What is the difference between a tattoo and a temporary tattoo?

A tattoo is a permanent design made by injecting ink under the skin with a needle. A temporary tattoo sits only on the surface of the skin and washes or wears off after a short time.

What is the difference between tattoo as a noun and as a verb?

As a noun, a "tattoo" is the permanent inked design itself, as in "she has a tattoo." As a verb, to "tattoo" is the act of marking someone's skin with such a design, as in "the artist tattooed his arm."

What words commonly go with tattoo?

Common phrases include "get a tattoo," "tattoo artist," and "tattoo parlor." People also speak of a "tattoo design" or "tattoo removal" when talking about the process before and after.

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