1
: paint put on the face, the arms, etc., by Native Americans before going into battle
a picture of a chief dressed in a headdress and war paint
2
informal + humorous
: makeup
She piled on the war paint.
Cite this Entry
“War paint.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/war%20paint. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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