mustache

noun

mus·​tache ˈmə-ˌstash  (ˌ)mə-ˈstash 

variants or less commonly moustache

1

: the hair growing on the human upper lip

especially : such hair grown and often trimmed in a particular style

his long mustache combed and waxed

—Henry Petroski

2

: hair or bristles about the mouth of a mammal

mustached adjective

or less commonly moustached

ˈmə-ˌstasht 

(ˌ)mə-ˈstasht

Examples of mustache in a Sentence

He used a small pair of scissors to trim his mustache.

He decided to grow a mustache.

The actor was wearing a false mustache.

Recent Examples on the Web

The only real difference from his playing days is that his hair and iconic mustache are now a silvery grey. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2025

Once the actor put a razor to his upper lip, Donner ripped off his own mustache — a fake. —David Morgan, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2025

One of his first moves was a dress code straight out of a military handbook: no beards, no long hair, mustaches allowed but neatly trimmed. —Marc Edelman, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

Eugene Levy so much, his famous eyebrows get raised right off his head and go on a grand tour — ending up as a mustache on a baby, kings to awed caterpillars and even alighting on daughter Sarah’s hand before returning to his face. —Alex Apatoff, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French moustache, from Old Italian mustaccio, from Middle Greek moustaki, diminutive of Greek mystak-, mystax upper lip, mustache

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mustache

• Fu Manchu mustache
• handlebar mustache

Rhymes for mustache

• backlash
• chumash
• eyelash
• moustache
• noncash
• potash
• rehash
• whiplash
• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache

Kids Definition

mustache

noun

mus·​tache

variants also moustache

ˈməs-ˌtash,

(ˌ)məs-ˈtash

1

: the hair growing on the human upper lip

2

: hair or bristles about the mouth of a mammal (as a walrus)