depilatory

[ dih-pil-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

adjective

1. capable of removing hair.

noun

, plural de·pil·a·to·ries.

1. a depilatory agent.
2. such an agent in a mild liquid or cream form for temporarily removing unwanted hair from the body.

depilatory

/ -trɪ; dɪˈpɪlətərɪ /

adjective

1. able or serving to remove hair

noun

1. a chemical that is used to remove hair from the body

Word History and Origins

Origin of depilatory¹

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin dēpilātōrius < Latin dēpilā ( re ) ( depilate ) + -tōrius -tory ¹

Example Sentences

She said that her own pot that she was banging had once been used to cook pasta and then to melt depilatory wax.

From New York Times

There are many safe ways to remove unwanted facial hair, including tweezing, waxing, threading, shaving or using depilatory creams.

From New York Times

Flamingo, a depilatory brand that is sold online and at Target, has seen a rise in sales of its face-waxing kits.

From New York Times

Girls are often introduced to depilatory products and techniques by relatives, borrowing razors and trying to imitate their mothers.

From The Guardian

Gottlieb was, in the early sixties, put in charge of a plan to depose Fidel Castro by making his beard fall out, but he couldn’t figure out how to deploy a depilatory.

From The New Yorker