spray tan

noun

plural spray tans

: a simulated suntan produced by darkening the skin with a sprayed-on chemical preparation

There's no doubt that, when choosing between a spray tan and actual tanning, the former is a much safer way to achieve a summer glow.

—Zoë Weiner

Someone gave me a gift certificate for a spray tan a few years ago. It left me golden brown with a just a hint of orange, but had an unpleasant odor to it.

—Lori Borgman

also : the chemical preparation used to produce a spray tan

Pantyhose are making a comeback! … We might have Kate Middleton to thank for that, or women could have just gotten really tired of applying spray tan to their legs during winter.

—Jennifer Wright

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above