scar

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈskär 

1

: an isolated or protruding rock

2

: a steep rocky eminence : a bare place on the side of a mountain

scar

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a mark remaining (as on the skin) after injured tissue has healed

2

: a mark left where something was previously attached : cicatrix sense 2

especially : a mark left on a stem or branch where a leaf or fruit has separated

3

: a mark or indentation (as on furniture) resulting from damage or wear

4

: a lasting moral or emotional injury

one of his men had been killed … in a manner that left a scar upon his mind

—H. G. Wells

scarless

ˈskär-ləs 

adjective

scar

3 of 3

verb

scarred; scarring

transitive verb

1

: to mark with a scar

2

: to do lasting injury to

intransitive verb

1

: to form a scar

2

: to become scarred

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• cliff
• escarpment
• palisade
• crag
• bluff

Noun (2)

• defect
• blotch
• mark

Examples of scar in a Sentence

Noun (1)

at the next bend in the river, a scar of red sandstone steeply rises to over 100 feet

Noun (2)

the scars left by carelessly scratching the car door with one's keys

Verb

His arm was badly scarred after the accident.

The tragedy left her emotionally scarred.

Your shoes are scarring the floor.

The fence was scarred by rust.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Then the complications start — Jess can’t ignore the scars of her past relationship, and Felix’s struggles with addiction and commitment come back to haunt him. —Ellise Shafer, Variety, 8 July 2025

With the scars of the possible anti-LGBTQ+ attack still visible, here was The Sugar Maple, not deterred. —Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025

Verb

Additionally, if your skin develops acne complications, such as scarring or dark spots (also called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) after the acne clears, visit a dermatologist. —Laura Schober, Health, 22 May 2025

So, anyone with deeper skin tones or pigmentation prone (be it melasma, post-acne scarring, or sun spots) should consider working in a tinted sunscreen instead. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English skere, from Old Norse sker skerry; probably akin to Old Norse skera to cut — more at shear

Noun (2)

Middle English escare, scar, from Middle French escare scab, from Late Latin eschara, from Greek, hearth, brazier, scab

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1555, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing scar

• leaf scar
• scar tissue

Rhymes for scar

• ar
• are
• bar
• barr
• car
• carr
• char
• charr
• czar
• far
• farre
• haar

Kids Definition

scar

1 of 2 noun

ˈskär 

1

: a mark left (as on the skin) after injured tissue has healed

2

: a mark on a stem or branch where a leaf or fruit has separated

3

: a mark (as on furniture) resembling a scar

4

: a lasting injury from a bad experience

scar

2 of 2 verb

scarred; scarring

1

: to mark with or form a scar

2

: to do lasting injury to

3

: to become scarred

Medical Definition

scar

1 of 2 noun

ˈskär 

1

: a mark left (as in the skin) by the healing of injured tissue

2

: a lasting emotional injury

psychological scars

scar

2 of 2 verb

scarred; scarring

transitive verb

: to mark with a scar

scarred heart valves

intransitive verb

1

: to form a scar

2

: to become scarred