scar

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: an isolated or protruding rock
2
: a steep rocky eminence : a bare place on the side of a mountain

scar

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a mark remaining (as on the skin) after injured tissue has healed
2
: a mark left where something was previously attached : cicatrix sense 2
especially : a mark left on a stem or branch where a leaf or fruit has separated
3
: a mark or indentation (as on furniture) resulting from damage or wear
4
: a lasting moral or emotional injury
one of his men had been killed … in a manner that left a scar upon his mindH. G. Wells
scarless adjective

scar

3 of 3

verb

scarred; scarring

transitive verb

1
: to mark with a scar
2
: to do lasting injury to

intransitive verb

1
: to form a scar
2
: to become scarred

Examples of scar in a Sentence

Verb His arm was badly scarred after the accident. The tragedy left her emotionally scarred. Your shoes are scarring the floor. The fence was scarred by rust.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Li is an Asian man, around 5-foot-11, about 140 pounds, with acne scars on his face, according to the post. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Mar. 2024 This lightweight serum packs a powerhouse of ingredients—from peptides to vitamin C, plus antioxidants for a product that works on wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and even scars. Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024 Mark has two small scars, one on his right chest and one on his neck, but no other visible indicators of a BCI. Catherine Thorbecke, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024 Thankfully, there are ways to prevent and treat HS scars, but some approaches work better than others. Tatiana Walk-Morris, SELF, 26 Feb. 2024 Hajji Aman had scars running up and down his skull, from when he was scalped by Spetsnaz. Jamil Jan Kochai, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024 Another scar on his chest is from his chemotherapy port. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2024 This underwear is often seamless, high-waisted, and specifically designed to avoid irritating potential C-section scars, help with absorption for postpartum periods, and help offer compression for extra support as your body starts to adjust back post-baby. Nikita Charuza, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024 Honor and Vogt compare their matching scars from open-heart surgery. Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2024
Verb
Each infection scarred her lungs; each exacerbation eroded her lung function. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024 Your Questions, Answered Why do stretch marks appear? Stretch marks are a type of scarring under the skin that appears when skin stretches rapidly, such as during pregnancy. Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024 In addition, avoid popping or squeezing pimples, as this can lead to inflammation and scarring. Angela Palmer, Verywell Health, 17 Jan. 2024 Niacinamide helps calm skin and treats acne at every stage, from inflammation to post-acne scarring. Macaela MacKenzie, Glamour, 15 Feb. 2024 But roads that scar the landscape, like scars on the human body, can also be signs of healing. Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 Kate teases a secret throughout the show, building suspense about the scarring childhood experience that permanently clogged her waterworks. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024 Rachel Zegler's New 'Hunger Games' Character 'Wears Her Sexuality on Her Sleeve,' Says Director Davis also wore special makeup to inform Dr. Gaul's weathered past, sustaining scarring and other disfigurements from her dangerous lab experiments. Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 25 Oct. 2023 Unlike Martinique, Algeria had recently been scarred by violence, most notably in 1945, when, after a clash with nationalists, the French massacred thousands of Algerians. The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English skere, from Old Norse sker skerry; probably akin to Old Norse skera to cut — more at shear

Noun (2)

Middle English escare, scar, from Middle French escare scab, from Late Latin eschara, from Greek, hearth, brazier, scab

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1555, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scar was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near scar

Cite this Entry

“Scar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scar. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scar

1 of 2 noun
1
: a mark left (as on the skin) after injured tissue has healed
2
: a mark on a stem or branch where a leaf or fruit has separated
3
: a mark (as on furniture) resembling a scar
4
: a lasting injury from a bad experience

scar

2 of 2 verb
scarred; scarring
1
: to mark with or form a scar
2
: to do lasting injury to
3
: to become scarred

Medical Definition

scar

1 of 2 noun
1
: a mark left (as in the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
2
: a lasting emotional injury
psychological scars

scar

2 of 2 verb
scarred; scarring

transitive verb

: to mark with a scar
scarred heart valves

intransitive verb

1
: to form a scar
2
: to become scarred

More from Merriam-Webster on scar

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