cameo

noun

cam·​eo ˈka-mē-ˌō 

plural cameos

1

a

: a gem carved in relief (see relief entry 1 sense 6)

especially : a small piece of sculpture on a stone or shell cut in relief in one layer with another contrasting layer serving as background

b

: a small medallion (see medallion sense 2) with a profiled head in relief

2

: a carving or sculpture made in the manner of a cameo

3

: a usually brief literary or filmic piece that brings into delicate or sharp relief the character of a person, place, or event

his cameos and short commentaries on men and manners

—R. T. Dunlop

4

: a small theatrical role usually performed by a well-known actor and often limited to a single scene

A major star appears in a cameo in the movie.

broadly : a brief appearance or role

cameo adjective

cameo verb, transitive + intransitive

Examples of cameo in a Sentence

He has a brief cameo in the film.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lively had a cameo in the Marvel film as Lady Deadpool, but the director’s commentary revealed that the Gossip Girl alum had a more impactful role. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024

Princess Gabriella and Princes Jacques' personalities shined on the palace perch, and their adorable antics were reminiscent of some of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis' past cameos on the Buckingham Palace balcony! —Janine Henni, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024

Micromanaging a cameo on a TV show that on a good night reaches fewer than 6 million viewers feels like a reach, particularly when candidates have so many other ways to reach voters. —Josef Adalian, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024

Seth Meyers is fed up with Republicans complaining about Kamala Harris' Saturday Night Live cameo. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English camew, from Middle French camau, kamaheu

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

cameo

noun

cam·​eo ˈkam-ē-ˌō 

plural cameos

1

: a carved gem in which the design is higher than its background

2

: a small role (as in a movie) performed by a well-known actor