acne

noun

ac·​ne ˈak-nē How to pronounce acne (audio)
: a disorder of the skin that is marked by blemishes (such as whiteheads, blackheads, or pustules) especially on the face, chest, and shoulders and is caused by inflammation of sebaceous glands and hair follicles
especially : a form found chiefly in adolescents
acned
ˈak-nēd How to pronounce acne (audio)
adjective
an acned teenager
acned skin

Examples of acne in a Sentence

a teenager with bad acne
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Acne Many children and adolescents going through puberty experience acne. — Cordelia Nwankwo, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2025 The green tinge helps cancel out redness from acne, blemishes, or inflammation to provide a more even-toned appearance. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 21 Mar. 2025 The Proactiv Acne Cleanser includes several effective ingredients, like benzoyl peroxide and hyaluronic acid, to exfoliate the skin, fight acne, and more. — Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 21 Mar. 2025 Powders are added to the mix, cracked open from capsules of pills like doxycycline, an antibiotic that treats acne as well as infections. — Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for acne

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin acnē, acna, borrowed from Late Greek aknḗ "eruption on the face," manuscript variant of akmḗ, literally, "point" — more at acme

First Known Use

1743, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acne was in 1743

Phrases Containing acne

Browse Nearby Words

acmonital
acne
acne rosacea
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acne.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acne. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

acne

noun
ac·​ne ˈak-nē How to pronounce acne (audio)
: a disorder of the skin caused by inflammation of skin glands and hair follicles and marked by pimples especially on the face

Medical Definition

acne

noun
ac·​ne ˈak-nē How to pronounce acne (audio)
: a disorder of the skin that is marked by blemishes (such as whiteheads, blackheads, or pustules) especially on the face, chest, and shoulders and is caused by inflammation of sebaceous glands and hair follicles
especially : a form found chiefly in adolescents : acne vulgaris
acned
-nēd How to pronounce acne (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on acne

Nglish: Translation of acne for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acne

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