cosmesis

C3O1S1M3E1S1I1S1

noun

The preservation, restoration, or bestowing of physical beauty, especially to the human body.

OriginAncient Greek κόσμησις →
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Meanings

nouncosmesis (countable and uncountable, plural cosmeses)

plural cosmeses

  1. countableuncountableThe preservation, restoration, or bestowing of physical beauty, especially to the human body.
  2. countableuncountableThe correction of disfigurement, as by surgery or tattooing.
  3. countableuncountableThe results of cosmetic procedures or interventions.
  4. countableuncountableA procedure or intervention to improve appearance.
  5. countableuncountableThe creation of life-like prosthetic limbs.
  6. countableuncountableA prosthetic limb with life-like appearance.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
cosmetics

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκόσμησις“an adorning”
  2. Englishcosmesis

From Ancient Greek κόσμησις (kósmēsis, “an adorning”), from κοσμέω (kosméō, “to order, arrange, adorn”), κόσμος (kósmos, “order”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

cosmesis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cosmesis

MLA

“cosmesis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cosmesis. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cosmesis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cosmesis.

Source: cosmesis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.