highlighter

noun

high·​light·​er ˈhī-ˌlī-tər How to pronounce highlighter (audio)
plural highlighters
1
: a cosmetic for making facial features (such as the cheekbones) appear lighter or brighter
To enhance her natural beauty, the former model's complexion is glowing with a light, iridescent highlighter on her cheeks and a clear, glittery gloss on her lips.Nicole Saunders
2
: a pen with a broad felt tip and brightly colored transparent ink for marking selected passages in a text
At least 100 publications, from newspapers to scientific journals, come into the building daily, and the editors' scissors and highlighters are never idle.Keith Henderson

Examples of highlighter 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.
Friends at her baptism passed the book around and pressed their favorite passages on its tissue-thin pages with highlighters. Chase Rogers, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026 The singer also took a softer approach with her glam, trading her usual babydoll blush and statement eye makeup for cloud lips, frosted highlighter, and natural-looking lashes. Grace McCarty, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2026 Back to the brightening qualities, Touche Éclat can also be used like a highlighter, adding luminosity to the high points of your face like the cheekbones and the bridge of the nose. Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 1 Feb. 2026 Last year was all about butter yellow; before that, Barbie pink and a highlighter shade of Brat green were the moment. Shelby Ying Hyde, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for highlighter

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of highlighter was in 1963

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Highlighter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/highlighter. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

highlighter

noun
high·​light·​er
: a pen with a broad felt tip and brightly colored transparent ink for marking selected passages in a text
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!

More from Merriam-Webster