shampoo

1 of 3

verb

sham·​poo sham-ˈpü How to pronounce shampoo (audio)
shampooed; shampooing; shampoos
Synonyms of shampoonext

transitive verb

1
archaic : massage
2
a
: to wash (something, such as hair) with soap and water or with a special preparation
b
: to wash the hair of
shampooer noun

shampoo

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural shampoos
1
: an act or instance of shampooing
2
: a preparation used in shampooing

shampooer

3 of 3

noun (2)

sham·​poo·​er
-üə(r)
plural -s
: one that shampoos
specifically : a hairdresser who washes hair

Examples of shampoo in a Sentence

Verb She shampoos her hair every morning. We need to shampoo the rug.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Anna asks as her mother sits in the bathtub on a stool shampooing her daughter’s hair. — Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026 Leave it in for at least half an hour or overnight, shampooing it out and conditioning afterward. — Mark Gurarie, Health, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
The first step this shampoo takes is ridding your scalp of (in my case, probably years) dead cells and product buildup. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 2 July 2026 Between grooming sessions, use baking soda as a dry shampoo for your pet. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shampoo

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Hindi & Urdu cā̃po, imperative of cā̃pnā to press, massage

First Known Use

Verb

1762, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shampoo was in 1762

Rhymes for shampoo

See All Rhymes for shampoo

Browse Nearby Words

shammy
shampoo
shampooer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shampoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shampoo. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shampoo

1 of 2 verb
sham·​poo sham-ˈpü How to pronounce shampoo (audio)
: to wash (as the hair) with soap and water or with a special preparation
shampooer noun

shampoo

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act or instance of shampooing
2
: a cleaner used in shampooing

More from Merriam-Webster on shampoo

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shampoo

Nglish: Translation of shampoo for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shampoo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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