facelift
noun
face·lift
ˈfās-ˌlift
variants
or face lift
or face-lift
plural facelifts or face lifts or face-lifts
1
: plastic surgery on the face and neck to remove or reduce signs of aging (such as wrinkles or sagging skin)
[Robert] Redford's publicist of 33 years, Lois Smith, denies her client has had any sort of facelift, eye job or chemical peel. "He's never, never, never had cosmetic surgery," she says.—People Weekly
Many face lifts last between five and 10 years, but the procedure can cause hematomas, bleeding and nerve damage …—Mary Murphy
Technically, a face-lift "lifts" both the face and the neck, and many plastic surgeons believe the neck shows the more dramatic improvement.—Vogue
2
: an alteration, restoration, or restyling (as of a building) intended especially to modernize
The facelift was intended to return the 95-year-old hall's acclaimed acoustics to original purity …—US News & World Report
Over time, the building was given a $15 million face lift, which created a new entrance on Fifth Avenue, subdued but plush interiors and escalators.—Carrie Donovan
All 48 models from kids bikes to $3,000 racing bikes were redesigned … and each got a color and graphics face-lift.—Laura Loro
facelift
transitive verb
or face-lift
or less commonly face lift
facelifted or face-lifted also face lifted; facelifting or face-lifting also face lifting; facelifts or face-lifts also face lifts
… said she would like to add more parking and continue to work on facelifting the venue.
—Dean Manning
… a former vaudeville palace recently face-lifted into a glittering performing arts center.
—Priit Vesilind
Cite this Entry
“Facelift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facelift. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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