cameo

noun

cam·​eo ˈka-mē-ˌō 

plural cameos

1

a

: a gem carved in relief (see relief entry 1 sense 6)

especially : a small piece of sculpture on a stone or shell cut in relief in one layer with another contrasting layer serving as background

b

: a small medallion (see medallion sense 2) with a profiled head in relief

2

: a carving or sculpture made in the manner of a cameo

3

: a usually brief literary or filmic piece that brings into delicate or sharp relief the character of a person, place, or event

his cameos and short commentaries on men and manners

—R. T. Dunlop

4

: a small theatrical role usually performed by a well-known actor and often limited to a single scene

A major star appears in a cameo in the movie.

broadly : a brief appearance or role

cameo adjective

cameo verb, transitive + intransitive

Examples of cameo in a Sentence

He has a brief cameo in the film.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1971, Mitchum had a cameo in Monte Hellman’s drive-in classic Two-Lane Blacktop starring James Taylor and Dennis Wilson, and that Mitchum was among the friends of Dennis Hopper (including Peter Fonda and Kris Kristoffrson) invited to Peru to film The Last Movie, a notorious flop. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025

There’s a pivot to Diddy’s love for his family as footage of the late Kim Porter appears alongside cameos from his children, who open up about their relationship with their father. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025

Swift's Eras Tour dancers, bandmates and backup singers make cameos. —Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025

Episode 2 of Survivor 49 featured more tribe futility, a twist that ended up not really going anywhere, and a special cameo by the Easter Bunny. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English camew, from Middle French camau, kamaheu

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for cameo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

cameo

noun

cam·​eo ˈkam-ē-ˌō 

plural cameos

1

: a carved gem in which the design is higher than its background

2

: a small role (as in a movie) performed by a well-known actor