Definition

A substance or tool that makes something lighter in color or weight.

Example

She used a hair lightener to achieve a brighter shade.

Conversation

I just bought this new hair lightener for the summer.

Oh really? I've heard those can be great for brightening up your look.

Yeah, I hope it works well without damaging my hair.

I'm sure it will! Just make sure to follow the instructions carefully.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Lightener → It is formed from "light" (from Old English *leoht*, meaning not heavy or bright) and "-en" (a suffix used to form verbs or adjectives indicating to make or become). The word "lightener" means to make something lighter or brighter.

Memory Tip

Think of 'light' as something that is not heavy or bright, and the '-en' means to make. So, a lightener is something that makes things lighter or brighter.

Visually Confused Words