earwax

noun

ear·​wax ˈir-ˌwaks 

: the yellow waxy secretion from the glands of the external ear

called also cerumen

Examples of earwax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the biggest challenges for these kinds of earbuds is keeping them clean and wax-free, which is a real challenge for someone like me who produces a lot of earwax. —Anshel Sag, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Scientists are now taking a closer look inside ears to seize a valuable substance called sebum, a major component of earwax. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2025

Dirty hearing aids won’t work well (if at all), as even a speck of earwax can clog the delicate electronics, preventing them from relaying sound properly. —Christopher Null, Wired News, 22 June 2025

The model was able to distinguish earwax samples from people with and without Parkinson’s with 94 percent accuracy. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for earwax

• attacks
• backpacks
• beeswax
• borax
• callbacks
• carfax
• climax
• cutbacks
• drawbacks
• feedbacks
• flashbacks
• greenbacks

Kids Definition

earwax

noun

ear·​wax ˈi(ə)r-ˌwaks 

: a brownish yellow or orange waxlike substance produced by the glands of the external ear

Medical Definition

earwax

noun

ear·​wax ˈi(ə)r-ˌwaks 

: the yellow waxy secretion from the glands of the external ear

called also cerumen