acne

noun

ac·​ne ˈak-nē How to pronounce acne (audio)
: a disorder of the skin that is marked by blemishes (such as whiteheads, blackheads, or pustules) especially on the face, chest, and shoulders and is caused by inflammation of sebaceous glands and hair follicles
especially : a form found chiefly in adolescents
acned
ˈak-nēd How to pronounce acne (audio)
adjective
an acned teenager
acned skin

Examples of acne in a Sentence

a teenager with bad acne
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.
And everything is drier, more irritated — and even more acne-prone. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026 Sheets can collect dust mites, bacteria, and fungi that may worsen allergies, asthma, and acne. — Carley Millhone, HEALTH, 1 Sep. 2026 This lets skin breathe, and acne-prone skin like mine avoid conditions that breed bacteria and inflammation. — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 31 Aug. 2026 Sometimes the mask left a welt around the perimeter of my mouth, a groove that briefly obscured my aging and acne. — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acne

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin acnē, acna, borrowed from Late Greek aknḗ "eruption on the face," manuscript variant of akmḗ, literally, "point" — more at acme

First Known Use

1743, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acne was in 1743

Phrases Containing acne

Browse Nearby Words

acmonital
acne
acne rosacea
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acne.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acne. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

acne

noun
ac·​ne ˈak-nē How to pronounce acne (audio)
: a disorder of the skin caused by inflammation of skin glands and hair follicles and marked by pimples especially on the face

Medical Definition

acne

noun
ac·​ne ˈak-nē How to pronounce acne (audio)
: a disorder of the skin that is marked by blemishes (such as whiteheads, blackheads, or pustules) especially on the face, chest, and shoulders and is caused by inflammation of sebaceous glands and hair follicles
especially : a form found chiefly in adolescents : acne vulgaris
acned
-nēd How to pronounce acne (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on acne

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acne

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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