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

In the same métiers d’art wing, an enameler with a Dalí-esque mustache, sporting a bowler hat and plenty of tattoos, told us he was recently hired from Patek Philippe. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2026

The person reading the issue lowered it to reveal a face tense with anger, devilishly exaggerated by his thin black beard and mustache. — Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026

The mayor, Frank Shaw, a man with a polio limp and an Oliver Hardy mustache, had presided for five years over Graft City, and his brother sold LAPD jobs and the answers to promotion exams. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

To Hetty’s surprise, Margaret’s mustache has disappeared, because her spirit has been trapped inside a mirror since her untimely death and exists as a reflection of herself. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 29 Oct. 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)