airbrush

1 of 2

noun

air·​brush ˈer-ˌbrəsh How to pronounce airbrush (audio)
: an atomizer for applying by compressed air a fine spray (as of paint or liquid color)

airbrush

2 of 2

verb

airbrushed; airbrushing; airbrushes

transitive verb

: to paint, treat, or alter (as to conceal imperfections) with or as if with an airbrush
airbrush a photograph

Examples of airbrush in a Sentence

Verb That photograph must have been airbrushed.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Keratin also protects hair from heat damage from blow-dryers, flat irons or hot airbrushes. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 May 2026 Some nail artists use an airbrush tool to create this blend of colors, while others, like Annie Ngo, a nail artist in Atlanta, use more unconventional methods, like dabbing on eye shadow. Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
There is nothing pitying and also nothing airbrushed in the pictures—just the occasional haze of a misty morning or the blurry tremor of a burning brush pile. Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026 Even seemingly benign alterations for aesthetic reasons are prohibited, such as removing the photojournalist’s own shadow or evidence of their camera equipment, removing an unsightly wire or fencepost, or airbrushing someone’s facial features to increase attractiveness. Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for airbrush

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1884, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airbrush was in 1884

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Airbrush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airbrush. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

airbrush

noun
air·​brush
ˈa(ə)r-ˌbrəsh
ˈe(ə)r-
: a device that uses compressed air to apply a liquid (as paint or a protective coating) as a fine spray
airbrush verb

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