facial
adj. · n.-
1 related to the face (adj.) B1 Intermediaterelated to or affecting your face.
of or relating to the face; used as a relational adjective.
ExampleHe had a very friendly facial expression when he greeted us.
ExampleThe patient suffered minor facial injuries during the accident, but the doctors expect a full recovery without scarring.
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2 beauty treatment (n.) B1 Intermediatea beauty treatment where someone cleans and puts creams on your face to make your skin look better.
a cosmetic treatment involving the cleansing, exfoliation, and moisturisation of the face.
ExampleShe decided to get a facial at the spa to relax before her wedding.
ExampleThe spa offers a variety of services, including a deep-cleansing facial designed to rejuvenate tired skin after long-haul travel.
- treatment
- skincare
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3 legal/on the surface (adj.) C1 Advanced Formal Technical Lawdescribing a law that seems valid just by looking at the words written in it.
referring to a law or regulation as it appears on its face, rather than how it is applied in practice.
ExampleThe lawyer argued that the new rule was a facial violation of the constitution.
ExampleThe court must determine whether the statute constitutes a facial challenge to the First Amendment or if the issue lies in its specific application.
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4 sports foul (n.) C1 Advanced Slang Informal Sportan illegal move in sports where a player hits an opponent in the face.
an illegal action or foul in contact sports involving a direct blow to an opponent's face.
ExampleThe player was sent off the field after giving his opponent a facial.
ExampleThe referee immediately blew the whistle, penalising the defender for a blatant facial during the final minutes of the match.
Early 17th century, borrowed from Medieval Latin faciālis (“face-to-face, direct, open”), from faciēs (“form, configuration, figure; face, visage, countenance”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).