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

Time Traveler
The first known use of spray tan was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near spray tan

Cite this Entry

“Spray tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spray%20tan. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

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