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

For the face, Xu starts by using the OneSize Beauty Point Made highlighter to accentuate the eyes, then applies Patrick Ta Major Headlines Blush to add a touch of color to the cheeks and under the eyes. —Mecca Pryor, Essence, 26 Nov. 2025

With just a few easy swipes, the best highlighters lend instant radiance and a healthy glow to any look—and the versatility is top-notch, too. —Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Nov. 2025

Meanwhile, the high points of her cheeks and the tip of her nose were dotted with a touch of highlighter. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 20 Nov. 2025

Another standout is the Positive Light Liquid Luminizer, a liquid highlighter featuring superfine, light-catching pearls that give skin a subtle glow. —Celia San Miguel, USA Today, 18 Nov. 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