shampoo

verb sham·poo \ sham-ˈpü \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of shampoo

transitive verb

1 archaic : massage

2 a : to wash (something, such as hair) with soap and water or with a special preparation

b : to wash the hair of

—

shampooer

noun

See shampoo defined for English-language learners

See shampoo defined for kids

Examples of shampoo in a Sentence

She shampoos her hair every morning.
We need to shampoo the rug.

Recent Examples of shampoo from the Web

Clients should only be shampooing once or twice a week.

— rebecca norris, Allure, "Berry Sorbet Hair Is a Bolder Take on Pink," 12 Mar. 2018
Leave it in for about ten minutes after shampooing.

— emily barth isler, Allure, "13 Amazing Hair-Care Products From Natural Beauty Brands," 10 Jan. 2018
Those seats will all be cleaned and shampooed soon.

— craig hlavaty, Houston Chronicle, "NASA removes a piece of historic Mission Control as restoration efforts ramp up," 25 Jan. 2018
And most people cut down on shampooing due to the cold temperatures, which can also make flakes worse.

— jessica cruel, SELF, "What Causes Dandruff? The Truth Behind 9 Common Dandruff Myths," 14 Sep. 2017
Unfortunately, Revelist reports that the glitter is only temporary and will likely fade after shampooing and brushing your glowing locks.

— lauren rearick, Teen Vogue, "Glitter Highlights Take Over Social Media," 26 Dec. 2017
Rinse the oil from your hair after shampooing and apply a conditioner as normal.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "9 Ways to Use Coconut Oil for Obnoxiously Soft Hair," 19 Dec. 2017
For more defined curls or silkier strands, wash your hair as usual, then apply the moist raw clay to your roots and to the rest of your hair, then rinse and shampoo it all off.

— jihane hajby, Allure, "7 Moroccan Beauty Secrets You Need to Know," 29 Oct. 2017
Request a west- facing bungalow with an outdoor shower and watch the sun go down over the San Jacinto Mountains while shampooing.

— Condé Nast Traveler, "L'Horizon Resort & Spa," 20 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shampoo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of shampoo

Hindi & Urdu cā̃po, imperative of cā̃pnā to press, massage

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1762

See Words from the same year

Other Fashion Terms

bodkin, chignon, cowlick, eau de toilette, imperial, pocket, pomander, tonsorial

shampoo

noun

Definition of shampoo

plural shampoos

1 : an act or instance of shampooing

2 : a preparation used in shampooing

See shampoo defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of shampoo from the Web

Bingham peeked into the shampoo bowls, looking for hairs and finding none.

— richard ruelas, azcentral, "Blow dryers and bullies: How haircuts became a major issue for Gov. Doug Ducey," 5 Apr. 2018
Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by a shampoo commercial.

— zoë weiner, Teen Vogue, "Marcus Francis on Why Shampoo Commercials Are a Lie," 5 Apr. 2018
Often a prescription strength anti-yeast shampoo called ketoconazole will do the trick.

— mona gohara, Good Housekeeping, "7 Common Scalp Issues — And How to Treat Them," 13 Mar. 2018
It is filled with hilarious pictures of Starbucks and Target cups left hidden in between shoes, furniture and shampoo.

— jason duaine hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Florida Couple Poses for Wedding Shoot Inside Target: 'Everyone Takes Pictures at the Beach'," 9 Mar. 2018
The shampoo is infused with Oribe’s distinctive Côte d’Azur scent, a perfume-y mix of bergamot, jasmine and sandalwood.

— rachel felder, New York Times, "Dandruff Shampoos Have Gone Chic," 20 Feb. 2018
The agency says hemp products such as paper, rope, clothing, lotions and shampoos aren't a problem under the law.

— rick barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin farmers ready to grow hemp again, but some products challenged by drug enforcement officials," 15 Feb. 2018
Thank god for dry shampoo, because showers are now a trigger.

— mehera bonner, Marie Claire, "The 30 Most Deranged, Sexy, and WTF Moments from 'Fifty Shades Freed'," 8 Feb. 2018
So what was up with that weird Winona Ryder shampoo ad that aired during the Globes?

— chau tu, Slate Magazine, "The Angle: President Oprah Edition," 8 Jan. 2018

First Known Use of shampoo

1838

Other Fashion Terms

bodkin, chignon, cowlick, eau de toilette, imperial, pocket, pomander, tonsorial

SHAMPOO Defined for English Language Learners

shampoo

verb

Definition of shampoo for English Language Learners

: to clean (something, such as hair, a carpet, etc.) with shampoo

shampoo

noun

Definition of shampoo for English Language Learners

: a special liquid that is used for cleaning your hair
: a special liquid used for cleaning rugs, carpets, etc.
: an act of cleaning hair, a carpet, etc., with shampoo

SHAMPOO Defined for Kids

shampoo

noun sham·poo \ sham-ˈpü \

Definition of shampoo for Students

plural shampoos

1 : a cleaner made for washing the hair

2 : an act of washing the hair

History for shampoo

Vigorous hair-washing was not something people engaged in too frequently 150 or so years ago, at least in America and Britain, so it is not too surprising that the word shampoo in its current meaning is only about that old. The earlier meaning of shampoo was “massage.” The word (as well as the practice of massaging) became familiar to English people when they traveled to India in the 1600s and 1700s. Shampoo is probably borrowed from a word in Hindi, a major language of India: cāmpō, the command form of cāmpnā, “to press, squeeze.”