ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sunburn

n.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈsənˌbɝn// UK //sˈʌnbɜːn// sun·burn Archaic Slang

n. a red, painful skin condition caused by too much time in the sun. It usually happens when your skin is not protected by sunscreen or clothing.

n. a skin condition resulting from overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, typically manifesting as redness, inflammation, and blistering.


SIMPLE

I got a bad sunburn after swimming all afternoon.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor advised applying a cool compress to the sunburn and staying out of the sun for several days.

COMPLEX

While a mild sunburn may heal within a few days, severe cases can lead to long-term skin damage and an increased risk of skin cancer if not treated properly.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English sunne burnen, sonne brennen, *sunne brennen (suggested by derivatives sonne brennynge, sunne brennynge (“sunburn”, literally “sun-burning”) and sunne brente (“sunburnt”), equivalent to sun + burn. Compare West Frisian sinnebrân (“sunburn”), Dutch zonnebrand (“sunburn”), German Sonnenbrand (“sunburn”), Swedish solbränna (“sunburn”), and Icelandic sólbruni (“sunburn”), as well as Old English sunbryne (“sunburn”).

© 2026 English Reference