cameo

noun

cam·​eo ˈka-mē-ˌō 

plural cameos

1

a

: a gem carved in relief (see relief entry 1 sense 6)

especially : a small piece of sculpture on a stone or shell cut in relief in one layer with another contrasting layer serving as background

b

: a small medallion (see medallion sense 2) with a profiled head in relief

2

: a carving or sculpture made in the manner of a cameo

3

: a usually brief literary or filmic piece that brings into delicate or sharp relief the character of a person, place, or event

his cameos and short commentaries on men and manners

—R. T. Dunlop

4

: a small theatrical role usually performed by a well-known actor and often limited to a single scene

A major star appears in a cameo in the movie.

broadly : a brief appearance or role

cameo adjective

cameo verb, transitive + intransitive

Examples of cameo in a Sentence

He has a brief cameo in the film.

Recent Examples on the Web

Martin Scorsese will reportedly make a cameo playing Alighieri’s mentor. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024

Nelson’s wife Annie also makes a quick cameo in the video. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024

The longtime Today personality made a cameo in Back to the Future: The Musical, the blockbuster stage musical adaptation of the beloved 1985 film now playing at New York City's famed Winter Garden Theatre. —Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024

Why scuttle the suspense (and that surprise cameo)? —Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024

Digital keys also make a cameo in the Justice Department’s lawsuit. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024

By taking place a century before The Phantom Menace, does that inherently mean that the show won’t be loaded with cameos? —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024

Gordon had a small but moving cameo as a caring record company exec visiting the despairing rocker named Blake and urging him to leave with her. —Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024

Their son, Max, made a cameo in Iron Man 2 as the little boy retroactively revealed to be a young Peter Parker. —Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 24 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English camew, from Middle French camau, kamaheu

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

cameo

noun

cam·​eo ˈkam-ē-ˌō 

plural cameos

1

: a carved gem in which the design is higher than its background

2

: a small role (as in a movie) performed by a well-known actor