emollient

1 of 2

adjective

emol·​lient i-ˈmäl-yənt How to pronounce emollient (audio)
1
: making soft or supple
also : soothing especially to the skin or mucous membrane
an emollient hand lotion
2
: making less intense or harsh : mollifying
soothe us in our agonies with emollient wordsH. L. Mencken

emollient

2 of 2

noun

: something that softens or soothes

Did you know?

Emollient derives from the present participle of the Latin verb emollire, which, unsurprisingly, means "to soften or soothe." Emollire, in turn, derives ultimately from mollis, meaning "soft." Another descendant of mollis is mollify (essentially meaning "to make softer in temper or disposition"). A more distant relative is mild, which can be traced back to the same ancient source as mollis. The adjective emollient first appeared in print in English in the early 1600s; the noun arrived on the scene soon after.

Examples of emollient in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The thick, emollient formula is powered by nourishing grapeseed oil, plus, moisturizing powerhouse shea butter and oils like desert dates rich in fatty acids for lasting hydration. Nikhita Mahtani, Allure, 22 Apr. 2024 The Different Kinds of Laxatives How Stool Softeners Work Farhadi said that stool softeners (also known as emollient laxatives) are substances that can be very helpful if your stool is dry and hard. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for emollient 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'emollient.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin emollient-, emolliens, present participle of emollire to soften, from e- + mollis soft — more at mollify

First Known Use

Adjective

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of emollient was in 1626

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near emollient

Cite this Entry

“Emollient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emollient. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Medical Definition

emollient

1 of 2 adjective
emol·​lient i-ˈmäl-yənt How to pronounce emollient (audio)
: making soft or supple
also : soothing especially to the skin or mucous membrane

emollient

2 of 2 noun
: an emollient agent
an emollient for the hands

More from Merriam-Webster on emollient

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!