mustache

noun

mus·​tache ˈmə-ˌstash  (ˌ)mə-ˈstash 

variants or less commonly moustache

1

: the hair growing on the human upper lip

especially : such hair grown and often trimmed in a particular style

… his long mustache combed and waxed …

—Henry Petroski

2

: hair or bristles about the mouth of a mammal

mustached adjective

or less commonly moustached

ˈmə-ˌstasht 

(ˌ)mə-ˈstasht

Examples of mustache in a Sentence

He used a small pair of scissors to trim his mustache.

He decided to grow a mustache.

The actor was wearing a false mustache.

Recent Examples on the Web

Birthday parties and holiday gatherings now come with babies, sober friends and the paternal instinct to grow a mustache. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026

The little mullet and mustache remain. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026

That mark and the mustache appear in brand-staple forest green, while the rest of the upper is rendered in cream, including a T-toe that appears to be constructed with rubber rather than leather. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026

So who better than the famously short-and-sweet Sabrina Carpenter to don a mustache and perform their big breakthrough? —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French moustache, from Old Italian mustaccio, from Middle Greek moustaki, diminutive of Greek mystak-, mystax upper lip, mustache

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mustache

• Fu Manchu mustache
• handlebar mustache

Rhymes for mustache

• backlash
• chumash
• eyelash
• moustache
• noncash
• potash
• rehash
• whiplash
• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache

Kids Definition

mustache

noun

mus·​tache

variants also moustache

ˈməs-ˌtash, 

(ˌ)məs-ˈtash

1

: the hair growing on the human upper lip

2

: hair or bristles about the mouth of a mammal (as a walrus)