scar

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈskär 

1

: an isolated or protruding rock

2

: a steep rocky eminence : a bare place on the side of a mountain

scar

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a mark remaining (as on the skin) after injured tissue has healed

2

: a mark left where something was previously attached : cicatrix sense 2

especially : a mark left on a stem or branch where a leaf or fruit has separated

3

: a mark or indentation (as on furniture) resulting from damage or wear

4

: a lasting moral or emotional injury

one of his men had been killed … in a manner that left a scar upon his mind

—H. G. Wells

scarless

ˈskär-ləs 

adjective

scar

3 of 3

verb

scarred; scarring

transitive verb

1

: to mark with a scar

2

: to do lasting injury to

intransitive verb

1

: to form a scar

2

: to become scarred

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• barranca
• barranco
• bluff
• cliff
• crag
• escarpment
• palisade
• precipice
• scarp

Noun (2)

• blemish
• blight
• blotch
• defect
• deformity
• disfigurement
• excrescence
• excrescency
• fault
• flaw
• imperfection
• mar
• mark
• pockmark

Examples of scar in a Sentence

Noun (1)

at the next bend in the river, a scar of red sandstone steeply rises to over 100 feet

Noun (2)

the scars left by carelessly scratching the car door with one's keys

Verb

His arm was badly scarred after the accident.

The tragedy left her emotionally scarred.

Your shoes are scarring the floor.

The fence was scarred by rust.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The growth of the competitive industry is palpable nationwide, across communities that still bear historic scars inflicted in part by that same industry. —Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024

This is a useful and thoughtful gift for gardeners tired of sporting itchy scars after a day in the yard. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024

Verb

Tuesday’s wave of explosions in Lebanon will likely scar the Party, as they are often known, who pride themselves on secrecy, and the technological omerta their members adhere to. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 17 Sep. 2024

In general, poking, picking, or otherwise messing with your skin can lead to more breakouts, scarring, and possibly an infection. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English skere, from Old Norse sker skerry; probably akin to Old Norse skera to cut — more at shear

Noun (2)

Middle English escare, scar, from Middle French escare scab, from Late Latin eschara, from Greek, hearth, brazier, scab

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1555, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing scar

• leaf scar
• scar tissue

Kids Definition

scar

1 of 2 noun

ˈskär 

1

: a mark left (as on the skin) after injured tissue has healed

2

: a mark on a stem or branch where a leaf or fruit has separated

3

: a mark (as on furniture) resembling a scar

4

: a lasting injury from a bad experience

scar

2 of 2 verb

scarred; scarring

1

: to mark with or form a scar

2

: to do lasting injury to

3

: to become scarred

Medical Definition

scar

1 of 2 noun

ˈskär 

1

: a mark left (as in the skin) by the healing of injured tissue

2

: a lasting emotional injury

psychological scars

scar

2 of 2 verb

scarred; scarring

transitive verb

: to mark with a scar

scarred heart valves

intransitive verb

1

: to form a scar

2

: to become scarred