cosmetics
- 01 B1 Intermediate
products like makeup, creams, or powders that you put on your skin or hair to look better.
preparations applied externally to the skin, hair, or nails to enhance or alter the appearance. Plural-only in this general sense.
Simple“She spent a lot of money on expensive cosmetics at the department store.”
In context“The regulation of cosmetics ensures that the chemicals used in skin creams and hair dyes are safe for long-term daily application.”
UsageAlways used in the plural form when referring to the products themselves.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the way something looks on the outside, especially when the inside stays the same.
the superficial aspects or outward appearance of a situation or object, often contrasted with its functional or structural reality.
Simple“The company changed its logo, but it was just cosmetics; the service was still bad.”
In context“The critics argued that the government's new policy was merely cosmetics designed to appease voters without addressing the underlying economic crisis.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is often used with a negative tone to suggest that a change is shallow or dishonest.
From French cosmétique, from Ancient Greek κοσμητική (kosmētikḗ, “the art of dress and ornament”), from κοσμητικός (kosmētikós), an adjective of κοσμέω (kosméō, “to order, to arrange, to rule, to adorn, to equip, to dress, to embellish”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.