highlighter

noun

high·​light·​er ˈhī-ˌlī-tər How to pronounce highlighter (audio)
plural highlighters
1
: a cosmetic for making facial features (such as the cheekbones) appear lighter or brighter
To enhance her natural beauty, the former model's complexion is glowing with a light, iridescent highlighter on her cheeks and a clear, glittery gloss on her lips.Nicole Saunders
2
: a pen with a broad felt tip and brightly colored transparent ink for marking selected passages in a text
At least 100 publications, from newspapers to scientific journals, come into the building daily, and the editors' scissors and highlighters are never idle.Keith Henderson

Examples of highlighter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As for the rest of her face, Jennifer Lopez tapped a liquid peach highlighter onto her cheekbones and down the bridge of her nose. Georgia Day, Glamour, 22 Nov. 2023 Throughout the video, Bieber is seen applying concealer under her eyes, a light pink blush on the apples of her cheeks, a subtle shimmery highlighter, and a light bronzer across her cheeks and her brow bone. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023 This trio of bronzer, highlighter, and blush allows for a flawlessly blended look, elevating your makeup game with ease and sophistication. Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023 Kids can play with eyeshadow, blush, highlighter, and lip gloss that are all pediatrician-, ophthalmologist-, and dermatologist-approved, according to the brand. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Bsn, Parents, 15 Nov. 2023 But while the contouring is strong under Grande's cheekbones, the highlighter is actually strongest not atop the cheekbones, but rather a few centimeters below her brow. Marci Robin, Allure, 1 Sep. 2023 Swatches of fuschia, teal, sunburnt orange, and highlighter yellow appeared almost performative in nature. Zachary Schwartz, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2023 Consider pairing it with a nice set of pens or highlighters. Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2023 Featuring a shea butter base with a blend of lavender and chamomile essential oils for their calming properties along with calendula and rosemary extract, the lip balm and cheek highlighter duo feels ultra-nourishing, hydrating, and soothing. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 13 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'highlighter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of highlighter was in 1963

Dictionary Entries Near highlighter

Cite this Entry

“Highlighter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/highlighter. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

highlighter

noun
high·​light·​er
: a pen with a broad felt tip and brightly colored transparent ink for marking selected passages in a text
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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