plural cameos
1
a
: a gem carved in relief (see relief entry 1 sense 6)
especially
: a small piece of sculpture on a stone or shell cut in relief in one layer with another contrasting layer serving as background
b
: a small medallion (see medallion sense 2) with a profiled head in relief
2
: a carving or sculpture made in the manner of a cameo
3
: a usually brief literary or filmic piece that brings into delicate or sharp relief the character of a person, place, or event
… his cameos and short commentaries on men and manners.—
R. T. Dunlop
R. T. Dunlop4
: a small theatrical role usually performed by a well-known actor and often limited to a single scene
A major star appears in a cameo in the movie.
broadly
: a brief appearance or role
cameo
adjective
cameo
verb, transitive + intransitive
Examples of cameo in a Sentence
He has a brief cameo in the film.
Recent Examples on the Web
Holiday moviegoers learned the 2025 installment of the action-horror franchise features a surprise cameo from Jennifer Lopez, star of the original 1997 movie.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Schaaf also makes a cameo in the film as the final match’s umpire — a last-minute surprise.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 26 Dec. 2025
The former child star — who grew up in New York and went to boarding school in Vermont — was first cast in 1987's Fatal Attraction at age 6, followed by single-episode cameos on Family Ties and The Equalizer.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
In addition to Ice Cube, Jennifer Lopez also has a cameo in the film, where the two actors play themselves.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cameo
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Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Schaaf also makes a cameo in the film as the final match’s umpire — a last-minute surprise.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 26 Dec. 2025
The former child star — who grew up in New York and went to boarding school in Vermont — was first cast in 1987's Fatal Attraction at age 6, followed by single-episode cameos on Family Ties and The Equalizer.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
In addition to Ice Cube, Jennifer Lopez also has a cameo in the film, where the two actors play themselves.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cameo
Cite this Entry
“Cameo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cameo. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cameo
noun
cam·eo
ˈkam-ē-ˌō 
plural cameos
1
: a carved gem in which the design is higher than its background
2
: a small role (as in a movie) performed by a well-known actor
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