mustache

noun

mus·​tache ˈmə-ˌstash  (ˌ)mə-ˈstash 

variants or less commonly moustache

1

: the hair growing on the human upper lip

especially : such hair grown and often trimmed in a particular style

… his long mustache combed and waxed …

—Henry Petroski

2

: hair or bristles about the mouth of a mammal

mustached adjective

or less commonly moustached

ˈmə-ˌstasht 

(ˌ)mə-ˈstasht

Examples of mustache in a Sentence

He used a small pair of scissors to trim his mustache.

He decided to grow a mustache.

The actor was wearing a false mustache.

Recent Examples on the Web

The star of the look, however, was DiCaprio's chevron mustache. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026

And since Texas dropped its first game of the season – which left USC (18-0) as college baseball's last unbeaten team – the mustache was no longer needed. —Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 14 Mar. 2026

Sontag’s childhood friend is ninety-five and in fine health, his eyes bright, his lampshade mustache imposing. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026

Here was this big white guy, with a bushy mustache and cherry-red 4Runner, showing up at his door to take him on their first outing. —Taylor Batten, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French moustache, from Old Italian mustaccio, from Middle Greek moustaki, diminutive of Greek mystak-, mystax upper lip, mustache

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mustache

• Fu Manchu mustache
• handlebar mustache

Rhymes for mustache

• backlash
• chumash
• eyelash
• moustache
• noncash
• potash
• rehash
• whiplash
• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache

Kids Definition

mustache

noun

mus·​tache

variants also moustache

ˈməs-ˌtash, 

(ˌ)məs-ˈtash

1

: the hair growing on the human upper lip

2

: hair or bristles about the mouth of a mammal (as a walrus)