cosmetology

American

[koz-mi-tol-uh-jee] / ˌkɒz mɪˈtɒl ə dʒi /

noun

the art or profession of applying cosmetics.

cosmetology British

/ ˌkɒzmɛˈtɒlədʒɪ /

noun

the work of beauty therapists, including hairdressing, facials, manicures, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

cosmetological adjective
cosmetologist noun

Etymology

Origin of cosmetology

1850–55; < Greek kosmētó ( s ) adorned, arranged ( cosmetic ) + -logy, apparently modeled on French cosmétologie

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

So as soon as she pulled away to meet a cosmetology client, he planted a white plastic folding chair in the middle of the empty spot.

From The Wall Street Journal

Employees sent on house calls, like the 18-year-old beautician, were typically licensed by the state boards of cosmetology or massage therapy.

From The Wall Street Journal

She started at cosmetology school, but didn’t finish because the fumes from acrylic nails sent her to the hospital, she said.

From MarketWatch

“Additionally, many vocational schools — including cosmetology schools, culinary schools, technical colleges and electrical trade schools — have the same penalty- and tax-free treatment of 529 plan funds.”

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023