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

Isotretinoin is the generic version of Accutane, a medication prescribed for acne. —Stephanie Slifer, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026

Except the people sharing these messages weren’t disenfranchised young men with greasy hair and acne-scarred faces but moms just like me. —Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2026

Tretinoin is a prescription-only retinoid (vitamin-A derivative) that can help treat multiple skin care concerns, including acne, fine lines, uneven texture, and dark spots. —Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 Feb. 2026

The Signature Laser Facial helped even out my skin texture and get rid of pesky acne scarring from my teenage years. —Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 31 Jan. 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