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
R. T. Dunlop4
: 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
The family of five also made a cameo in the Jonas Brothers holiday movie, A Very Jonas Christmas.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Standing beside him is him—the older, wiser version of himself, played in an absolutely perfect cameo by none other than Will Smith, the original Fresh Prince and an executive producer of the show.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Dec. 2025
The series continues to feature cameos from adult celebrities as the gods, including reappearances from Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hermes and Jason Mantzoukas as Dionysus.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
The book is filled with cameo appearances by a Who’s Who of European and American theater and film illuminati.
—The Know, Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cameo
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Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Standing beside him is him—the older, wiser version of himself, played in an absolutely perfect cameo by none other than Will Smith, the original Fresh Prince and an executive producer of the show.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Dec. 2025
The series continues to feature cameos from adult celebrities as the gods, including reappearances from Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hermes and Jason Mantzoukas as Dionysus.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
The book is filled with cameo appearances by a Who’s Who of European and American theater and film illuminati.
—The Know, Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cameo
Cite this Entry
“Cameo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cameo. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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