cotton ball
noun
US
: a small ball of cotton that can be used for a variety of purposes (such as removing makeup or cleaning a wound) and that is usually used once and then thrown away
a bag of cotton balls
Examples of cotton ball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nail polish remover: Use a small amount of nail polish remover on a cotton ball to erase scuffs.
—
Maryal Miller Carter, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Help your child learn with fun nose blowing games like cotton ball races and underwater bubbles.
—Aleksandra Weber, Parents, 12 June 2025
To blot the ink stain, use a dampened cotton ball with rubbing alcohol, then rinse the spot with cold water.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2024
Studies have found that two drops poured onto a cotton ball and inhaled for 20 minutes appeared to be safe and well-tolerated.
—Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 5 Aug. 2024
Use rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball to wipe the blades of the pruners to remove bacteria that can spread disease between plants.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2025
Made with 100% super soft cotton, each extra-large cotton ball is incredibly gentle on the skin.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
If there’s makeup residue on your eyelash curler, dampen a cotton ball with makeup remover and run it over the curler.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2025
Ink Stains Dampen a cotton ball or cotton swab with rubbing alcohol.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2024
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Maryal Miller Carter, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Help your child learn with fun nose blowing games like cotton ball races and underwater bubbles.
—Aleksandra Weber, Parents, 12 June 2025
To blot the ink stain, use a dampened cotton ball with rubbing alcohol, then rinse the spot with cold water.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2024
Studies have found that two drops poured onto a cotton ball and inhaled for 20 minutes appeared to be safe and well-tolerated.
—Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 5 Aug. 2024
Use rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball to wipe the blades of the pruners to remove bacteria that can spread disease between plants.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2025
Made with 100% super soft cotton, each extra-large cotton ball is incredibly gentle on the skin.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
If there’s makeup residue on your eyelash curler, dampen a cotton ball with makeup remover and run it over the curler.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2025
Ink Stains Dampen a cotton ball or cotton swab with rubbing alcohol.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Cotton ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cotton%20ball. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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