highlighter

noun

high·​light·​er ˈhī-ˌlī-tər How to pronounce highlighter (audio)
plural highlighters
1
: a cosmetic for making facial features (such as the cheekbones) appear lighter or brighter
To enhance her natural beauty, the former model's complexion is glowing with a light, iridescent highlighter on her cheeks and a clear, glittery gloss on her lips.Nicole Saunders
2
: a pen with a broad felt tip and brightly colored transparent ink for marking selected passages in a text
At least 100 publications, from newspapers to scientific journals, come into the building daily, and the editors' scissors and highlighters are never idle.Keith Henderson

Examples of highlighter 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.
In Now, watch a cosmetic chemist give us the lowdown on highlighters: Shop all of our latest obsessions in one place! Annie Blackman, Allure, 2 Dec. 2024 Tompson put some toys and a highlighter on the table. James Somers, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024 And these deals don’t disappoint — from the best eye cream for dark circles to one of PEOPLE’s best hot air brushes to a TikTok-viral highlighter, and more. Madison Yauger, People.com, 25 Nov. 2024 That’s where a highlighter (and even a powder) comes into play. Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for highlighter 

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of highlighter was in 1963

Dictionary Entries Near highlighter

Cite this Entry

“Highlighter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/highlighter. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

highlighter

noun
high·​light·​er
: a pen with a broad felt tip and brightly colored transparent ink for marking selected passages in a text
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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