variants
or less commonly mat
or matt
: lacking or deprived of luster (see luster entry 1 sense 1) or gloss: such as
a
: having a usually smooth even surface free from shine or highlights
matte metals
a matte finish
b
: having a rough or granular (see granular sense 1) surface
1
: a crude mixture of sulfides formed in smelting sulfide ores of metals (such as copper, lead, or nickel)
2
: a movie effect in which part of a scene is blocked out and later replaced by footage containing other material (such as a background painting)
Examples of matte in a Sentence
Adjective
a photograph with a matte finish
I chose a paint with a matte finish so the walls wouldn't be too shiny.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Han, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
Gone are the days of the ultra-matte liquid lipstick.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
Lily Wohlner, Allure, 10 Oct. 2025
The pad has a memory cloud texture that makes the application weightless but buildable, perfect for a soft-matte finish.
—The Glamour Editors, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for matte
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Adjective
The long-wearing formula sets to a semi-matte finish that resists oil and humidity, too.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 9 Oct. 2025
Gone are the days of the ultra-matte liquid lipstick.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Armani Beauty’s Lip Power Longwear Satin Lipstick delivers the pigmentation and staying power of a matte, but swaps a potentially harsh, line-accentuating finish for a soft, almost-balm-like satin.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 10 Oct. 2025
The pad has a memory cloud texture that makes the application weightless but buildable, perfect for a soft-matte finish.
—The Glamour Editors, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for matte
Cite this Entry
“Matte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/matte. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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