jojoba

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noun jo·jo·ba \ hə-ˈhō-bə \

Definition of jojoba

:a shrub or small tree (Simmondsia chinensis synonym S. californica) of the box family of southwestern North America with edible seeds that yield a valuable liquid wax used especially in cosmetics

Recent Examples of jojoba from the Web

An ~optional~ last step is to smooth a drop or two of Moroccan oil or jojoba oil through your hair for extra shine.

— maya allen, Cosmopolitan, "These #BlackHairChallenge Videos Celebrate the Magic of Black Hair," 27 June 2017
Then apply a generous amount of cream or ointment that contains an oil (such as olive oil and jojoba oil), or Shea butter.

— amy capetta, Woman's Day, "How to Solve Irritation from Head to Toe," 12 June 2017
This cleanser is also full of stress-busting ingredients like chamomile, jojoba, and rosehip, which means bath time can basically double as a yoga workout, right?

— magdalena puniewska, Bon Appetit, "4 Plants That Snuck into Your Beauty Routine," 11 May 2017
A jojoba scrub kicks things off, followed by a face pressure-point massage, a relaxing head rub, and a layer of rich shea butter lotion to combat dry skin at 35,000 feet.

— kate springer, Condé Nast Traveler, "An Afternoon at the World's Best Airport Spa," 4 Apr. 2017
Yuge is intended to add volume and softness to your hair with ingredients such as sea salt and jojoba oil.

— brooke shunatona, Seventeen, "Lush Is Launching a Trump-Inspired Hair Product," 23 Feb. 2017
Before styling, generously coat hair in a leave-in sunscreen like René Furterer Solaire leave-in moisturizing spray ($23, renefurtererusa.com for salons), which contains a chemical sun filter and moisturizers like camelina oil and jojoba wax.

— crystal martin, New York Times, "4 Easy Sunny-Day Hairstyles," 26 July 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jojoba.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of jojoba

Mexican Spanish, of Uto-Aztecan origin; akin to O'odham hohowai jojoba, Yaqui hohoovam

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First Known Use: 1900

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jojoba

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jojoba

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