sunburn

1 of 2

verb

sun·​burn ˈsən-ˌbərn How to pronounce sunburn (audio)
sunburned ˈsən-ˌbərnd How to pronounce sunburn (audio) or sunburnt ˈsən-ˌbərnt How to pronounce sunburn (audio) ; sunburning

transitive verb

: to burn or discolor by the sun

sunburn

2 of 2

noun

: inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation especially from sunlight

Examples of sunburn in a Sentence

Noun He has a bad sunburn. Use sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Some sunburns morph into a deeper burn requiring immediate medical attention. Sherri Gordon, Health, 19 Aug. 2025 Dogs can get sunburned, too, according to the American Kennel Club. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 July 2025
Noun
The capital of Crete earns fourth spot as the destination with the biggest risk of a sunburn. Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025 Scientists have spotted whales suffering from sunburns; cats, dogs, horses—even alpacas, turtles, and penguins—can develop all kinds of skin cancers. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for sunburn

Word History

Etymology

Verb

back-formation from sunburned, from sun + burned

First Known Use

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1584, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sunburn was in 1530

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sunburn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunburn. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

sunburn

1 of 2 verb
sun·​burn -ˌbərn How to pronounce sunburn (audio)
sunburned -ˌbərnd How to pronounce sunburn (audio) or sunburnt -ˌbərnt How to pronounce sunburn (audio) ; sunburning
1
: to burn or discolor by the sun
2
: to become sunburned

sunburn

2 of 2 noun
: a sore red state of the skin caused by too much sunlight

Medical Definition

sunburn

1 of 2 transitive verb
sun·​burn -ˌbərn How to pronounce sunburn (audio)
sunburned -ˌbərnd How to pronounce sunburn (audio) or sunburnt -ˌbərnt How to pronounce sunburn (audio) ; sunburning
: to affect with sunburn
sunburned skin

sunburn

2 of 2 noun
: inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation especially from sunlight

called also erythema solare

More from Merriam-Webster on sunburn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!