- 1improving only the outside appearance of something and not its basic character These reforms are not merely cosmetic. She dismissed the plan as a cosmetic exercise to win votes.
- 2connected with medical treatment that is intended to improve a person's appearance cosmetic surgery cosmetic dental work
NAmE//kɑzˈmɛt̮ɪkli//
adverbSee cosmetic in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: cosmetic