tan line
noun
plural tan lines
: a line that distinguishes a suntan from a paler shade of skin and that shows where an area of skin was covered (as by clothing) when the tanning occurred
While the new swimming costume would, in all possibility, leave your body with bizarre tan lines, celebrities seem to be unperturbed by the after-effects.—
Reema Gowalla
Reema GowallaMy dad, Larry—Yogi's oldest son—recently found a tan line beneath the '63 ring he got from his dad.—Lindsay Berra
Lindsay BerraExamples of tan line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Klum wore a tiny black thong in the video, but remained topless to avoid any tan lines.
—Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 2 May 2025
The front has a peek-a-boo lace pattern without being too revealing, and the criss-cross back straps may just make the tan lines worthwhile.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 4 Mar. 2025
With a rugged exterior as if it were washed on the salty shores of Venice Beach, this hoodie boasts a fluffy terry lining to caress those new tan lines.
—Astrid Kayembe, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2024
Matthew McConaughey and Camila McConaughey aren't risking any tan lines.
—Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 24 July 2024
This sunscreen hack intentionally creates tan lines across the face so users can skip their morning contour and go for a makeup-free look all summerlong.
—Lauren Burwell, Allure, 15 July 2024
Plus, the spaghetti straps will yield tiny tan lines during an outdoor event, as opposed to an uneven farmer’s tan that a short-sleeve gown may leave behind.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024
The idea is that by creating artificial tan lines across the face, the user will be left naturally contoured by the power of the sun—without using makeup.
—Lauren Burwell, Allure, 15 July 2024
These tops are perfect for avoiding the tan lines that traditional bikini tops leave.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 11 July 2024
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Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 2 May 2025
The front has a peek-a-boo lace pattern without being too revealing, and the criss-cross back straps may just make the tan lines worthwhile.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 4 Mar. 2025
With a rugged exterior as if it were washed on the salty shores of Venice Beach, this hoodie boasts a fluffy terry lining to caress those new tan lines.
—Astrid Kayembe, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2024
Matthew McConaughey and Camila McConaughey aren't risking any tan lines.
—Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 24 July 2024
This sunscreen hack intentionally creates tan lines across the face so users can skip their morning contour and go for a makeup-free look all summerlong.
—Lauren Burwell, Allure, 15 July 2024
Plus, the spaghetti straps will yield tiny tan lines during an outdoor event, as opposed to an uneven farmer’s tan that a short-sleeve gown may leave behind.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024
The idea is that by creating artificial tan lines across the face, the user will be left naturally contoured by the power of the sun—without using makeup.
—Lauren Burwell, Allure, 15 July 2024
These tops are perfect for avoiding the tan lines that traditional bikini tops leave.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 11 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Tan line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tan%20line. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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