highlighter

noun

high·​light·​er ˈhī-ˌlī-tər 

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

Make sure to use just a dot of the blush and highlighter (liquid formulas tend to be much more pigmented than powder or cream formulas) and really blend the product out—Canfield blends out all the way up to her temple for a draped look. —Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 25 Apr. 2025

Another tip for looking luminous on (mostly) makeup-free days: a touch of Victoria Beckham Beauty highlighter around the eyes. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2025

The sticks are shadows, liners and even work as a highlighter in a pinch. —Amanda Lauren, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

The app can convert handwriting into typed text, and a virtual highlighter helps with reviewing documents. —PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for highlighter

• exciter
• firefighter
• igniter
• lamplighter
• reciter
• screenwriter
• scriptwriter
• songwriter
• sportswriter
• typewriter
• biter
• brighter

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