: the vascular, thick layer of the skin lying below the epidermis and above the superficial fascia that contains fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, B cells, and sensory nerve endings and has an extracellular matrix composed of proteoglycans and glycoproteins embedded with collagen and elastin fibers
called also corium, cutis
see hair illustration
: layer of skin or tissue
endodermis
Examples of dermis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Located primarily in the dermis (aka the second layer of skin), collagen gives our skin its strength and smoothness, facilitates wound healing, and helps to retain moisture.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 5 Aug. 2025
Wrinkles in older skin were straighter, possibly due to structural changes like flattening of the junction between the dermis and the epidermis and collagen loss.
—New Atlas, 24 July 2025
Together, the sound waves and the pressure work to send hair signal molecules past the skin barrier to the dermis through needles.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dermis
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Noun
Full-thickness wounds are those that penetrate through the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, exposing the muscle underneath.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Located primarily in the dermis (aka the second layer of skin), collagen gives our skin its strength and smoothness, facilitates wound healing, and helps to retain moisture.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 5 Aug. 2025
Wrinkles in older skin were straighter, possibly due to structural changes like flattening of the junction between the dermis and the epidermis and collagen loss.
—New Atlas, 24 July 2025
Together, the sound waves and the pressure work to send hair signal molecules past the skin barrier to the dermis through needles.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dermis
Cite this Entry
“Dermis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dermis. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dermis
noun
der·mis
ˈdər-məs 
: the sensitive inner layer of skin directly under the epidermis
Medical Definition
dermis
noun
der·mis
ˈdər-məs
: the vascular, thick layer of the skin lying below the epidermis and above the superficial fascia that contains fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, B cells, and sensory nerve endings and has an extracellular matrix composed of proteoglycans and glycoproteins embedded with collagen and elastin fibers
called also corium, cutis, cutis vera, derma
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