spray tan

noun

plural spray tans
: a simulated suntan produced by darkening the skin with a sprayed-on chemical preparation
There's no doubt that, when choosing between a spray tan and actual tanning, the former is a much safer way to achieve a summer glow.Zoë Weiner
Someone gave me a gift certificate for a spray tan a few years ago. It left me golden brown with a just a hint of orange, but had an unpleasant odor to it.Lori Borgman
also : the chemical preparation used to produce a spray tan
Pantyhose are making a comeback! … We might have Kate Middleton to thank for that, or women could have just gotten really tired of applying spray tan to their legs during winter. Jennifer Wright

Examples of spray tan in a Sentence

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.
Federal Grants Being Abruptly Terminated The processes by which these decisions have been made have been about as clear as mud mixed with orange spray tan. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025 One of the best ways to extend your spray tan is by adding self-tanner, which Claghorn recommends applying every two to three days. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2025 Baus explained that instead of buying her a subscription for professional spray tans, her husband Joseph went all in. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025 The central comedic premise of the show revolves around spray tan. Ben Croll, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025 The costars speak to each other out of character while filming, joking about Baldoni’s nose and Lively’s spray tan. Jack Smart, People.com, 21 Jan. 2025 However, Baldoni insisted the comment was made in regard to Lively's own admission about her spray tan. Christina Dugan Ramirez, Fox News, 26 Jan. 2025 An American brother and sister venture to Sydney to start up a spray tan business. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025 The Jersey Shore is beautiful, even if the name conjures images of spray tans, big hair, fist-pumping, and gym-tan-laundry folk. The Editors, Outside Online, 25 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spray tan was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Spray tan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spray%20tan. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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