Cheekbones

/ˈtʃiːkboʊnz/ noun

Definition

The prominent bones in your face just under your eyes and across your cheeks.

Etymology

A compound word combining 'cheek' (from Old English 'ceace') and 'bone' (from Old English 'ban'), describing the skeletal structure visible in the face.

Kelly Says

High cheekbones are considered beautiful in almost every culture, and anthropologists think that's because prominent cheekbones indicate good nutrition and health—it's an ancient beauty signal that's hardwired into human attraction.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Cheekbones have been aestheticized through a gendered lens, with prominence marketed as feminine beauty ideal. Male cheekbones are described with different language (angular, sharp, masculine) reflecting beauty standards that obscure women's diverse facial structures.

Inclusive Usage

Describe cheekbones as anatomical features without gendered beauty judgments; acknowledge that cheekbone prominence varies naturally and is not inherently feminine or masculine.

Inclusive Alternatives

["facial structure","bone structure"]

Related Words

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