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

As the performance loads up, fans prepare for kickoff, including a cameo from Kevin Hart and a nod to the streamer’s popular Squid Games series. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 26 Dec. 2024

Equipped with sparkling costumes, cowboy boots, cameos from other artists and of course, dancing, Beyoncé delivered a performance that could have served as a Christmas gift for fans across the globe — but not Jackson and the rest of the players. —Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 26 Dec. 2024

Continue reading … -- IN OTHER NEWS COMMANDER-IN-SCREEN – Trump's famous Christmas cameo is far from his only acting credit. —Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024

Hilarious cameos by everyone from Miley Cyrus to Ilana Glazer will keep you on your toes during the shenanigans in this 2015 comedy. —Lydia Price, People.com, 22 Dec. 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