scar

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈskär 

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 had left a scar upon his mind.

—H. G. Wells

scarless

ˈskär-ləs 

adjective

scar

2 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

scar

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: an isolated or protruding rock

2

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

Synonyms of scar

Noun (1)

• defect
• blotch
• mark

Noun (2)

• cliff
• escarpment
• palisade
• crag

Examples of scar in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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.

Noun (2)

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And breakouts can leave behind dark marks and scars that take even longer to heal. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

This is a city full of glittering theater marquees and mint midcentury signage, and ringed with rail yards and the scars of an industrial center remade for human scale. — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

Verb

Dermatologists can tailor treatments, from over-the-counter creams to prescription medications; avoid picking pimples, which can worsen inflammation and increase scarring. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

There’s Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu), a former SP welder who’s scarred by the aftermath of his firing, and his vibrant and restless wife, Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon). — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1555, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at 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