whitehead

white·head | \ ˈ(h)wīt-ˌhed

How to pronounce whitehead (audio)

\

Definition of whitehead

(Entry 1 of 3)

: a small whitish elevation of the skin (as on the face) due to retention of sebum and dead skin cells in a skin pore blocked by a thin layer of epithelium

— called also closed comedo, comedo, milium

— compare blackhead sense 1

Whitehead

biographical name (1)

White·head | \ ˈ(h)wīt-ˌhed

How to pronounce Whitehead (audio)

\

Definition of Whitehead (Entry 2 of 3)

Alfred North 1861–1947 English mathematician and philosopher

Whitehead

biographical name (2)

Definition of Whitehead (Entry 3 of 3)

William 1715–1785 English dramatist; poet laureate (1757–85)

Examples of whitehead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Since BHAs remove the pore-cloggers that lead to acne, salicylic acid is best for preventing blackheads and whiteheads. — Katie Bourque, Good Housekeeping, "AHAs vs. BHAs: Which Chemical Exfoliant Is Right for Your Skin?," 30 Mar. 2020 In other words, wait until the whitehead has completely formed beneath the skin, otherwise cysts or an infections can occur, warns Russak. — Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, "How to Pop a Pimple If You Absolutely Must," 4 Oct. 2019 In fact actual whiteheads aren’t even really poppable. — Sara Coughlin, SELF, "How to Treat Closed Comedones, the Acne You Didn’t Know You Had," 1 Aug. 2019 Find out how to identify and deal with the different kinds of acne, including blackheads, whiteheads, blind pimples, and cystic zits — because not all purported acne-fighting formulas effectively fight all types of acne. — Deanna Pai, Allure, "How to Identify and Find the Best Treatment for Every Kind of Acne," 4 Mar. 2020 Dapsone is both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, and it’s proven to help with blackheads, whiteheads, and deeper painful pimples. — Jessica Cruel, SELF, "12 Acne Treatments That Really Work, According to Dermatologists," 8 Aug. 2019 If your lip pimple looks like whitehead, look for a spot treatment formulated with salicylic acid, which will get deep into your skin and help clear clogged pores. — Yerin Kim, Seventeen, "How to Get Rid of a Lip Pimple Fast," 16 Jan. 2020 Unlike cysts, blackheads, or whiteheads, lipomas don't ooze or spew pus. — Megan Decker, refinery29.com, "Dr. Pimple Popper," 3 Jan. 2020 Unlike cysts, blackheads, or whiteheads, lipomas don't ooze or spew pus. — Megan Decker, refinery29.com, "Dr. Pimple Popper," 3 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whitehead.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about whitehead

Dictionary Entries near whitehead

white-headed eagle

Statistics for whitehead

Cite this Entry

“Whitehead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whitehead. Accessed 31 Oct. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

wraith

Listen to the pronunciation of wraith

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Here Be Dragons: A Creature Identification Quiz

Which is a synonym of werewolf?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.