Other forms: cosmetics
A cosmetic is a product put on the face or body to improve the look. Cosmetics counter, a range of cosmetics, cosmetic surgery.
As an adjective it means superficial, so a cosmetic change is one that alters the appearance and nothing else, which is nearly always a criticism. The Greek behind it is the word for order and arrangement, the same root as cosmos.
1nouncosmeticA product put on the face or body to improve the look.
“She keeps her cosmetics in a small bag: lipstick, mascara and face cream.”
cosmetic is a product.
Greek kosmetikos means skilled in arranging, from kosmos, order; cosmos shares the root.
Proto-Indo-European
*ḱens-
Ancient Greek
κοσμητική — the art of dress and ornament
French
cosmétique
English, today
cosmetic
Built from
From French cosmétique, from Ancient Greek κοσμητική (“the art of dress and ornament”), κοσμητικός, from κοσμητής (“orderer, director, decorator”), from κοσμέω (“to order, to arrange, to rule, to adorn, to equip, to dress, to embellish”), from κόσμος (“order”). by surface analysis, cosmos + -etic.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA