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.
The suspect is described as Black, age 20 to 30, about 6 feet tall with yellow eyes, a beard and facial acne or razor bumps. — Harry Harris, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Abdelkarim’s humility is as evident as his youth, which is reflected in a few traces of teenage acne on his cheeks and a shy smile typical of someone who isn’t used to being the focus of media attention. — Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 These include some chemotherapy drugs, blood thinners, antidepressants, acne medications and blood pressure medications. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 31 July 2026 Normal, sensitive, and acne-prone skin types will love this lightweight SPF 45 face sunscreen. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2026 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 7 Aug. 2026.

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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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