blackhead

noun

black·​head ˈblak-ˌhed How to pronounce blackhead (audio)
Synonyms of blackheadnext
1
: a small plug of darkened sebum and dead skin cells that fills a pore of the skin especially on the face

called also comedo, open comedo

compare whitehead
2
: a destructive disease of turkeys and related birds caused by a protozoan (Histomonas meleagridis) that invades the intestinal ceca and liver
3
: a larval clam or mussel attached to the skin or gills of a freshwater fish

Examples of blackhead in a Sentence

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.
That means a course of action that targets everything from blackheads to excess sebum production to sebaceous filaments, the thin threads that tend to pop up on your nose, to even redness, which can cause skin to swell, enhancing the appearance of pores. Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 15 May 2026 After a rinse, the mud revealed perfectly polished skin, relieved of dullness, redness, and clogged pores and blackheads—leaving me glowing from the inside and out. Essence, 12 May 2026 Pore Vacuums These claim to remove blackheads, and the satisfaction videos are undeniably compelling. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026 Pore vacuums claim to remove blackheads but mostly clear surface debris. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blackhead

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blackhead was circa 1837

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Cite this Entry

“Blackhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blackhead. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

blackhead

noun
black·​head ˈblak-ˌhed How to pronounce blackhead (audio)
: a small oily bit of material blocking the outlet of a fat-secreting gland in the skin

Medical Definition

blackhead

noun
black·​head ˈblak-ˌhed How to pronounce blackhead (audio)
1
: a small plug of darkened sebum and dead skin cells that blocks the duct of a sebaceous gland especially on the face

called also comedo, open comedo

compare whitehead
2
: a destructive disease of turkeys and related birds caused by a protozoan of the genus Histomonas (H. meleagridis) that invades the intestinal ceca and liver

called also enterohepatitis, histomoniasis, infectious enterohepatitis

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