: a unit of structure built up from polymeric molecules or ions: such as
a
: an ordered region in a fiber (as of cellulose or rayon)
b
: a molecular aggregate that constitutes a colloidal particle
Examples of micelle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The micelles adhere to the cotton while pulling makeup, sebum, and any other daily unpleasantness off the skin.
—
Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 14 June 2025
Not your average water, this uses micelles to remove makeup and expertly cleanse the skin.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
It's made up of micelles—tiny oil molecules suspended in soft water—that help remove dirt and oils from the skin.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Here, micelles pair with niacinamide to cleanse skin while controlling sebum production to keep skin fresh and balanced.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2024
Miniature compartments, such as lipid bilayers configured into capsules like liposomes and micelles, are important for cellular organization and function.
—Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
Once they’d been emptied of glucagon, the micelles did not trigger an immune response or cause organ damage.
—New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2024
Infused with micelles and white vinegar, this shampoo keeps oil strands in check and is gentle enough for daily use.
—Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2024
Loaded into micelles, aggregates of molecules that are both water-loving (hydrophilic) and fat-loving (lipophilic), that are delivered intranasally means the treatment quickly arrives in the brain via the nose-to-brain anatomical pathway, bypassing the BBB completely.
—New Atlas, 23 July 2024
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Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 14 June 2025
Not your average water, this uses micelles to remove makeup and expertly cleanse the skin.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
It's made up of micelles—tiny oil molecules suspended in soft water—that help remove dirt and oils from the skin.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Here, micelles pair with niacinamide to cleanse skin while controlling sebum production to keep skin fresh and balanced.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2024
Miniature compartments, such as lipid bilayers configured into capsules like liposomes and micelles, are important for cellular organization and function.
—Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
Once they’d been emptied of glucagon, the micelles did not trigger an immune response or cause organ damage.
—New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2024
Infused with micelles and white vinegar, this shampoo keeps oil strands in check and is gentle enough for daily use.
—Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2024
Loaded into micelles, aggregates of molecules that are both water-loving (hydrophilic) and fat-loving (lipophilic), that are delivered intranasally means the treatment quickly arrives in the brain via the nose-to-brain anatomical pathway, bypassing the BBB completely.
—New Atlas, 23 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Micelle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/micelle. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
micelle
noun
mi·celle
mī-ˈsel 
: a unit of structure built up from polymeric molecules or ions: as
a
: an ordered region in a fiber (as of cellulose or rayon)
b
: a molecular aggregate that constitutes a colloidal particle
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