a powder, lotion, lipstick, rouge, or other preparation for beautifying the face, skin, hair, nails, etc.
cosmetics,superficial measures to make something appear better, more attractive, or more impressive: The budget committee opted for cosmetics instead of a serious urban renewal plan.
adjective
serving to beautify; imparting or improving beauty, especially of the face.
used or done superficially to make something look better, more attractive, or more impressive: Alterations in the concert hall were only cosmetic and did nothing to improve the acoustics.
Origin of cosmetic
1595–1605; <Greek kosmētikós relating to adornment, equivalent to kosmēt(ós) adorned, arranged (verbid of kosmeîn, derivative of kósmos order, arrangement) + -ikos-ic
Skincare is increasingly outselling cosmetics in the beauty business.
The Gen Z founders of a boutique skincare brand tackling chronic skin conditions and stigma|Rachel King|September 13, 2020|Fortune
Epic, whose Fortnite generates more than $1 billion annually from in-game purchases of virtual cosmetics and extras, sued both companies for what it considers excessive fees and for the right to sell game extras directly to players.
Apple’s App Store draws scrutiny in yet another country|Verne Kopytoff|September 3, 2020|Fortune
A stock split is, fundamentally, a cosmetic accounting trick—and buying fractional ownership of these companies is, on a relative basis, more expensive than ever after factoring in recent gains in share price.
Investors riding high on Apple and Tesla stock splits could get clipped, data shows|rhhackettfortune|August 31, 2020|Fortune
Skin care is increasingly outselling cosmetics in the beauty business.
The founders of skin care startup Starface on normalizing uncomfortable conversations|Rachel King|August 31, 2020|Fortune
L’Oreal’s sales dropped 19% in the second quarter as lockdown conditions weakened demand for makeup and cosmetics.
How the world’s biggest advertisers are spending (or not) as the pandemic grinds on|Lara O'Reilly|August 3, 2020|Digiday
PG has been used in more than 4,000 food, beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products for more than 50 years.
Europeans Recall Fireball Whiskey Over a Sweetener Also Used in Antifreeze|Tim Mak|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Propylene glycol is used for a variety of industrial, cosmetic, and food production uses.
Europeans Recall Fireball Whiskey Over a Sweetener Also Used in Antifreeze|Tim Mak|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She said pageant contents are just the most visible product of the cosmetic industry now at risk.
Venezuela Now Has Toilet Paper but No Breast Implants|Jason Batansky|September 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It can lead to all types of cosmetic and functional issues down the road which are difficult if not impossible to reverse.
Beware the Designer Vagina|Lizzie Crocker|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On second thought, maybe I will contact that cosmetic dentist.
The New World of Anti-Aging Dentistry|Kent Sepkowitz|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
None of them have beards, and it would seem they use a cosmetic to extirpate them.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 65, No. 399, January 1849|Various
It would appear that in America a cosmetic is in use, consisting of calomel mixed into a paste with water.
Poisons: Their Effects and Detection|Alexander Wynter Blyth
Eva had taken up an agency for a cosmetic which was manufactured by a woman in Rowe.
The Portion of Labor|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
(i) For cosmetic reasons, to remedy a deformity due to a squinting eye which is amblyopic.
A System of Operative Surgery, Volume IV (of 4)|Various
He had to assume that the metallic fiber in his clothing and the lead flakes in the cosmetic would scramble the circuit signal.
Tangle Hold|F. L. Wallace
British Dictionary definitions for cosmetic
cosmetic
/ (kɒzˈmɛtɪk) /
noun
any preparation applied to the body, esp the face, with the intention of beautifying it
adjective
serving or designed to beautify the body, esp the face
having no other function than to beautifycosmetic illustrations in a book
derogatorydesigned to cover up a greater flaw or deficiency; superficialtheir resignation is a cosmetic exercise
Derived forms of cosmetic
cosmetically, adverbcosmeticology, noun
Word Origin for cosmetic
C17: from Greek kosmētikos, from kosmein to arrange, from kosmos order