Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cosmetics

/kɑzˈmɛt.ɪks/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.67 in modern English

Syllables
cos-met-ics
IPA
/kɑzˈmɛt.ɪks/
15
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Preparations applied externally to change or enhance the beauty of skin, hair, nails, lips, and eyes.

noun

The way something looks; superficial appearance.

noun

The study of such products.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

From French cosmétique, from Ancient Greek κοσμητική (kosmētikḗ, “the art of dress and ornament”), from κοσμητικός (kosmētikós), an adjective of κοσμέω (kosméō, “to order, to arrange, to rule, to adorn, to equip, to dress, to embellish”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: cosmétique, κοσμητική

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /kɑzˈmɛt.ɪks/
  • British English: /kɒzˈmɛt.ɪks/

Usage

Derived Forms

cosmetology neurocosmetics nutricosmetics

Frequently Paired Words

aesthetics aesthesis esthetics esthesis optics cosmesis cosmetic cosmetician

Synonyms

makeup make-up beauty product cosmesis

Rhymes With

genetics athletics aesthetics kinetics diabetics poetics prosthetics phonetics synthetics anesthetics diuretics esthetics

Questions

How do you pronounce cosmetics?
The recorded pronunciation is /kɑzˈmɛt.ɪks/.
What does cosmetics mean?
Preparations applied externally to change or enhance the beauty of skin, hair, nails, lips, and eyes.
Where does cosmetics come from?
It is traced to French.

How to pronounce cosmetics

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “cosmetics”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/kɑzˈmɛt.ɪks/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “cosmetics”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “cosmetics” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.