H. L. Mencken
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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.
Examples of emollient in a Sentence
Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
Thicker consistencies create an emollient barrier on top of the skin, trapping in the heat and exacerbating the inflammation.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2024
Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Use moisturizers with emollients, ceramides, and humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for emollient
Cite this Entry
“Emollient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emollient. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
emollient
1 of 2 adjective
emollient
2 of 2 noun
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