cosmetics

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cos•met•ic /kɑzˈmɛtɪk/   n. [countable]

1. Clothing a powder, lotion, or other preparation to make the face, skin, etc., more beautiful.
2. cosmetics, [plural] measures taken to make something seem better but without being better:
   Hiring a few minority employees was just cosmetics to stave off criticism.

adj. 

3. Clothing done or performed to improve beauty, esp. of the face:
   cosmetic surgery after the accident.
4. done to improve the appearance of something without improving it:
   made a few cosmetic attempts to hire more people from minorities.

cos•met•i•cal•ly, adv. See -cosm-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cos•met•ic  (koz met′ik), n. 

1. Clothing a powder, lotion, lipstick, rouge, or other preparation for beautifying the face, skin, hair, nails, etc.
2. 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.

adj. 

3. Clothing serving to beautify;
   imparting or improving beauty, esp. of the face.
4. 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.

• Greek kosmētikós relating to adornment, equivalent. to kosmēt(ós) adorned, arranged (verbid of kosmeîn, derivative of kósmos order, arrangement) + -ikos -ic
• 1595–1605

cos•met′i•cal•ly, adv.