acne

noun

ac·​ne ˈak-nē 

: a disorder of the skin that is marked by blemishes (such as whiteheads, blackheads, or pustules) especially on the face, chest, and shoulders and is caused by inflammation of sebaceous glands and hair follicles

especially : a form found chiefly in adolescents

acned

ˈak-nēd 

adjective

an acned teenager

acned skin

Examples of acne in a Sentence

a teenager with bad acne

Recent Examples on the Web

And for people dealing with conditions like acne, eczema or signs of aging, diet alone may not address the underlying issue. — Olivia Laborde, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026

The ingredient works by binding to retinoic acid in the skin, thus boosting cell turnover, stimulating collagen production, and improving things like acne, fine lines, and uneven texture. — Kelsey Stewart, Allure, 18 Aug. 2026

Gradually developing facial hair, acne or scalp-hair thinning can have noncancerous explanations. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 18 Aug. 2026

Common concerns tend to be acne, post-acne marks, oiliness and keeping hair and nails healthy. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin acnē, acna, borrowed from Late Greek aknḗ "eruption on the face," manuscript variant of akmḗ, literally, "point" — more at acme

First Known Use

1743, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing acne

• acne rosacea
• anti-acne
• mask acne

Kids Definition

acne

noun

ac·​ne ˈak-nē 

: a disorder of the skin caused by inflammation of skin glands and hair follicles and marked by pimples especially on the face

Medical Definition

acne

noun

ac·​ne ˈak-nē 

: a disorder of the skin that is marked by blemishes (such as whiteheads, blackheads, or pustules) especially on the face, chest, and shoulders and is caused by inflammation of sebaceous glands and hair follicles

especially : a form found chiefly in adolescents : acne vulgaris

acned

-nēd 

adjective