Word of the Day

: March 7, 2025

emollient

noun ih-MAHL-yunt

What It Means

An emollient is something, such as a lotion, that softens or soothes.

// She keeps a number of oils in the bathroom—argan, almond, and coconut—to use as emollients.

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emollient in Context

"Jojoba oil and squalene are plant oils and emollients, which means they moisturize and soften skin by reinforcing its natural barrier and forming a layer that prevents moisture from escaping; beef tallow is considered an emollient, too." — Katie Mogg, The New York Times, 18 July 2024

Did You Know?

The noun emollient is used most often in reference to a substance—such as an oil, cream, lotion, butter, or balm—used to treat someone's skin or hair. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it traces back to a Latin word, the verb emollire, meaning "to soften or soothe." Emollire, in turn, formed in part from the adjective mollis, meaning "soft." (Another descendant of mollis is mollify, which means "to make softer in temper or disposition.") Emollient first appeared in print in English in the early 1600s as an adjective with the meaning "making soft or supple," describing things such as herbs, medicines, and poultices; the noun arrived on the scene soon after.