highlighter

noun

high·​light·​er ˈhī-ˌlī-tər 

plural highlighters

1

: a cosmetic for making facial features (such as the cheekbones) appear lighter or brighter

To enhance her natural beauty, the former model's complexion is glowing with a light, iridescent highlighter on her cheeks and a clear, glittery gloss on her lips.

—Nicole Saunders

2

: a pen with a broad felt tip and brightly colored transparent ink for marking selected passages in a text

At least 100 publications, from newspapers to scientific journals, come into the building daily, and the editors' scissors and highlighters are never idle.

—Keith Henderson

Examples of highlighter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This highlighter also lends advanced protection, shielding skin from UVA, UVB, Bluelight and Infrared. —Bianca Salonga, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025

This season is all about light-catching balms, pearlescent creams, and tone-matching highlighters that melt into the skin. —Larry Stansbury, Essence, 27 June 2025

My go-to blush and highlighter layered smoothly over it without pilling. —Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2025

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush applies that concept to your cheeks with a sublime powder that acts like a blush and highlighter in one. —Sophia Panych, Allure, 15 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for highlighter

• exciter
• firefighter
• igniter
• lamplighter
• reciter
• screenwriter
• scriptwriter
• songwriter
• sportswriter
• typewriter
• biter
• brighter

Kids Definition

highlighter

noun

high·​light·​er

: a pen with a broad felt tip and brightly colored transparent ink for marking selected passages in a text