facial

1 of 2

adjective

fa·​cial ˈfā-shəl 

1

: of or relating to the face

facial expressions

2

: concerned with or used in improving the appearance of the face

facially

ˈfā-shə-lē 

adverb

facial

2 of 2

noun

: a treatment to improve the condition or appearance of the facial skin

Examples of facial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The same phenomenon applies to minimalist interiors in independent coffee shops, all-neutral home decorating schemes and the uniformity of facial features and bodies on screen. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Moscow’s citywide facial recognition system, deployed across 200,000 cameras, was used to identify and apprehend protesters during the 2021 antigovernment demonstrations. — Seva Gunitsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Noun

There’s a Main Spa, with a treatment menu of Balinese and river stone massages and Rainforest lymphatic drainage facials; there are also outdoor heated spa pools and a sauna and steam room indoors. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026

Guests can choose from haircuts, styling, color, facials, waxing, brow and lash services, chemical peels, and even Hydrafacial treatments. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin faciālis "face-to-face, direct," from Latin faciēs "appearance, face entry 1" + -ālis -al entry 1

Noun

derivative of facial entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1910, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing facial

• facial blindness
• facial index
• facial nerve

Rhymes for facial

• glacial
• racial
• spacial
• spatial
• bifacial
• biracial
• palatial
• postglacial
• preglacial
• subglacial
• craniofacial
• interfacial

Kids Definition

facial

1 of 2 adjective

fa·​cial ˈfā-shəl 

: of or relating to the face

facially

-shə-lē 

adverb

facial

2 of 2 noun

: a treatment to improve the condition of the skin of the face

Medical Definition

facial

1 of 2 adjective

fa·​cial ˈfā-shəl 

1

: of, relating to, or affecting the face

facial neuralgia

2

: concerned with or used in improving the appearance of the face

3

: relating to or being the buccal and labial surface of a tooth

facially

-shə-lē 

adverb

facial

2 of 2 noun

1

: a treatment to improve the appearance of the face

2

: a facial part (as a nerve or artery)

Legal Definition

facial

adjective

fa·​cial

: involving or apparent from the face of something (as a statute)

facial discrimination

a facial challenge to the law

facially adverb