airbrush

1 of 2

noun

air·​brush ˈer-ˌbrəsh How to pronounce airbrush (audio)
: an atomizer for applying by compressed air a fine spray (as of paint or liquid color)

airbrush

2 of 2

verb

airbrushed; airbrushing; airbrushes

transitive verb

: to paint, treat, or alter (as to conceal imperfections) with or as if with an airbrush
airbrush a photograph

Examples of airbrush in a Sentence

Verb That photograph must have been airbrushed.
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.
Noun
Celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen painted a black half-moon at the base of the nail and a diffused airbrush effect on the tip against a dark neon pink base. Audrey Noble, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2025 Shields had built a career as a graphic designer and airbrush artist, creating T-shirts with images of rock stars. Daniella Walsh, Orange County Register, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
The average American would promptly have been indicted — and certainly would not have had the Secret Service come by the gun dealer’s store to try airbrushing the evidence. The Editors, National Review, 2 Dec. 2024 Hermans also added some latex wrinkles, and Chaar airbrushed some green and textured powder spray into the wig to complete the aging effect. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for airbrush 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1884, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airbrush was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near airbrush

Cite this Entry

“Airbrush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airbrush. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

airbrush

noun
air·​brush
ˈa(ə)r-ˌbrəsh,
ˈe(ə)r-
: a device that uses compressed air to apply a liquid (as paint or a protective coating) as a fine spray
airbrush verb

More from Merriam-Webster on airbrush

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!