highlighter

noun

high·​light·​er ˈhī-ˌlī-tər 

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

Nobody does highlighter like Fenty Beauty does, and this pretty rose shade is a two-for-one highlighter-blush that gives you a pop of color with every swipe. —Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 29 Apr. 2026

Poosh and Northie sent out the good vibes while matching in highlighter yellow ensembles. —Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026

One final tip is to add some color with a highlighter to the rear lure as well. —Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026

Place Highlight Strategically A small amount of highlighter — luminous, not glittery — tapped onto three key spots can transform dull, tired skin. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for highlighter

• exciter
• firefighter
• igniter
• lamplighter
• reciter
• screenwriter
• scriptwriter
• songwriter
• sportswriter
• typewriter
• biter
• brighter

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