earwax

noun

ear·​wax ˈir-ˌwaks How to pronounce earwax (audio)
: the yellow waxy secretion from the glands of the external ear

called also cerumen

Examples of earwax 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.
Add on an ear cleaning for 168 renminbi, a service that involves dislodging earwax with a tuning fork. Erin Vivid Riley, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026 Plus, your body will naturally remove earwax when needed. Sherri Gordon, Health, 10 Mar. 2026 Wojcicki envisioned 23andMe as a health-care startup: your saliva could reveal your odds of getting early-onset dementia, or determine if your earwax was sticky because of a C variant in the ABCC11 gene. Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025 In 1833, abolitionist and home economics writer Lydia Maria Child actually suggested using your own earwax as lip balm. Mark Hay, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for earwax

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of earwax was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Earwax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earwax. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

earwax

noun
ear·​wax ˈi(ə)r-ˌwaks How to pronounce earwax (audio)
: a brownish yellow or orange waxlike substance produced by the glands of the external ear

Medical Definition

earwax

noun
ear·​wax ˈi(ə)r-ˌwaks How to pronounce earwax (audio)
: the yellow waxy secretion from the glands of the external ear

called also cerumen

More from Merriam-Webster on earwax

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