sunburn

1 of 2

verb

sun·​burn ˈsən-ˌbərn How to pronounce sunburn (audio)
sunburned ˈsən-ˌbərnd How to pronounce sunburn (audio) or sunburnt ˈsən-ˌbərnt How to pronounce sunburn (audio) ; sunburning

transitive verb

: to burn or discolor by the sun

sunburn

2 of 2

noun

: inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation especially from sunlight

Examples of sunburn in a Sentence

Noun He has a bad sunburn. Use sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
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.
Verb
But a 2024 survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) found that nearly one in five Americans don’t know that you can get sunburned in the winter. Korin Miller, Outside Online, 14 Mar. 2025 For example, those who have sensitive, freckled, pale or easily sunburned skin are much more likely to get stretch marks during pregnancy than others. Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
Users can check on air quality and sunburn risk in their location and see if there’s any extreme weather advisory. Hayden Field, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2025 Blood sweat is a pink fluid that pygmy hippos ooze out to keep cool in humid climates and to protect their skin from sunburns. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sunburn

Word History

Etymology

Verb

back-formation from sunburned, from sun + burned

First Known Use

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1584, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sunburn was in 1530

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sunburn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunburn. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

sunburn

1 of 2 verb
sun·​burn -ˌbərn How to pronounce sunburn (audio)
sunburned -ˌbərnd How to pronounce sunburn (audio) or sunburnt -ˌbərnt How to pronounce sunburn (audio) ; sunburning
1
: to burn or discolor by the sun
2
: to become sunburned

sunburn

2 of 2 noun
: a sore red state of the skin caused by too much sunlight

Medical Definition

sunburn

1 of 2 transitive verb
sun·​burn -ˌbərn How to pronounce sunburn (audio)
sunburned -ˌbərnd How to pronounce sunburn (audio) or sunburnt -ˌbərnt How to pronounce sunburn (audio) ; sunburning
: to affect with sunburn
sunburned skin

sunburn

2 of 2 noun
: inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation especially from sunlight

called also erythema solare

More from Merriam-Webster on sunburn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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