earwax

noun

ear·​wax ˈir-ˌwaks 

: the yellow waxy secretion from the glands of the external ear

called also cerumen

Examples of earwax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dirty hearing aids won’t work well (if at all), as even a speck of earwax can clog the delicate electronics, preventing them from relaying sound properly. —Christopher Null, Wired News, 22 June 2025

The model was able to distinguish earwax samples from people with and without Parkinson’s with 94 percent accuracy. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2025

While hearing aids can suffer from faulty microphones or water damage, earwax seems to be the biggest culprit. —Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 13 May 2025

These infections are typically caused by bacterial buildup resulting from earwax blockage, a cold or upper respiratory infections. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 9 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for earwax

• attacks
• backpacks
• beeswax
• borax
• callbacks
• carfax
• climax
• cutbacks
• drawbacks
• feedbacks
• flashbacks
• greenbacks

Kids Definition

earwax

noun

ear·​wax ˈi(ə)r-ˌwaks 

: a brownish yellow or orange waxlike substance produced by the glands of the external ear

Medical Definition

earwax

noun

ear·​wax ˈi(ə)r-ˌwaks 

: the yellow waxy secretion from the glands of the external ear

called also cerumen