sunscreen

noun

sun·​screen ˈsən-ˌskrēn 

1

: a screen to protect against sun

2

: a preparation (such as a lotion) applied to the skin to prevent sunburn (as by chemically absorbing ultraviolet radiation)

also : its active ingredient (as benzophenone) compare sunblock

sunscreening

ˈsən-ˌskrē-niŋ 

adjective

Examples of sunscreen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Do note that there’s no shade and no water on the trail, so bring plenty to drink, a good bottle of sunscreen, and start early in the day to avoid the worst of the midday heat. —Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025

The human theater will play out on the sand, the smell of sunscreen will fill the air, and the piping plovers and other beach birds will crowd into the little spaces left for them. —Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025

The pigment could soon find applications in cosmetics, such as natural sunscreens, as well as in photoelectronic devices, thermal coatings, color-changing paints, and environmental sensors. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025

Much of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial is outdoors, and the Hawaiian sun can be strong, so wear sunscreen and a hat. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sunscreen

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between

Kids Definition

sunscreen

noun

sun·​screen -ˌskrēn 

: a preparation (as a lotion) applied to the skin to prevent sunburn (as by chemically absorbing the sun's rays)

Medical Definition

sunscreen

noun

sun·​screen -ˌskrēn 

: a preparation (as a lotion) applied to the skin to prevent sunburn (as by chemically absorbing ultraviolet radiation)

also : its active ingredient (as benzophenone) compare sunblock

sunscreening adjective