ENGLISH
REFERENCE

acne

n.
US //ˈækni// UK //ˈækni// ac·ne
  1. 1 skin condition (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    a skin condition that causes red spots or pimples, often on the face, back, or chest.

    an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands, characterised by the eruption of pimples or pustules.

    Example

    Many teenagers struggle with acne and try different creams to clear their skin.

    Example

    Severe acne can lead to permanent scarring if the underlying inflammation is not treated by a dermatologist early in its development.

    Usage

    Uncountable in general use; often used without an article.
Origin

From New Latin acnē, probably a corruption of Ancient Greek ἀκμή (akmḗ, “point, top”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026