shampoo

IPA/ʃæmˈpuː/
KK[ʃæmpˈu]IPA/ʃæmˈpuː/

shampoo — noun

  • shampoosingular
  • shampoosplural

1. a liquid or cream soap that people use to wash their hair, or a similar product

1.nounA2
Definition

a liquid or cream soap that people use to wash their hair, or a similar product designed for cleaning carpets, car seats, or upholstery

Example

Vivek bought a new shampoo for his dry, itchy scalp.

shampoo for [hair type / condition]

This shampoo contains coconut oil and smells like a tropical beach.

shampoo contains [ingredient]

Common collocations
  • gentle shampoo
  • dry shampoo
  • anti-dandruff shampoo
  • baby shampoo
  • shampoo for oily hair
  • shampoo and conditioner
Synonyms
  • hair wash

    less common; usually refers to the act rather than the product

  • cleanser

    broader term used for facial or body cleaning products, not specific to hair

Antonyms
  • conditioner

    applied after shampoo to moisturise and detangle hair

Grammar Patterns

shampoo for [hair type / surface]

shampoo + contains / is made of [ingredients]

Usage Note

As an uncountable noun it refers to the substance in general ('I need to buy shampoo'). As a countable noun it refers to a specific brand, bottle, or type ('She tried three different shampoos before finding one that worked').

Common Mistakes

I washed my hair with conditioner instead of shampoo.
I washed my hair with shampoo, then used conditioner.
Shampoo cleans the hair and scalp; conditioner adds moisture and smoothness. They are not interchangeable.

2. an action or occasion of cleaning your hair, or another object such as a carpet,

2.nounB1
Definition

an action or occasion of cleaning your hair, or another object such as a carpet, with a liquid soap product

Example

After the muddy walk, Léa gave her dog a thorough shampoo in the garden.

give [someone/something] a shampoo

A shampoo at that salon costs twenty dollars, so Kofi washes at home instead.

Common collocations
  • give someone a shampoo
  • have a shampoo
  • shampoo and cut
  • shampoo and blow-dry
Synonyms
  • wash

    more general; 'a wash' can refer to cleaning any body part or object

  • hair wash

    specifically for the act of cleaning hair, especially in salon contexts

Grammar Patterns

give [someone/something] a shampoo

a shampoo and [other service]

Usage Note

Commonly used in the pattern 'give [someone/something] a shampoo' or 'have a shampoo'. In salon contexts, it often appears as part of a service package: 'cut and shampoo', 'shampoo and set'.

shampoo — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Shampoo, conditioner, hair wash, and cleanser are all products used in personal care, but they serve different purposes. Shampoo is specifically a soap-based product that cleans hair and scalp by removing dirt, oil, and product buildup. Conditioner, by contrast, is applied after shampooing — it coats the hair shaft to add moisture, reduce tangles, and prevent breakage; it does NOT clean. Hair wash is the broad action of cleaning hair but can refer to either the product or the act depending on context ('a hair wash at the salon'). Cleanser is a wider category that includes face washes and body washes, but it is rarely used for hair in everyday English — you would not say 'I bought a new hair cleanser' unless you mean a non-foaming, sulfate-free shampoo alternative.

shampoo ↗conditioner ↗hair washcleanser ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • shampoo and condition
  • cut and shampoo
  • give someone a shampoo

Prepositions

Etymology

HindiEnglish

The word 'shampoo' entered English in the mid-18th century from Hindi 'champo' (चाँपो), the imperative form of 'champna' (चाँपना), meaning 'to press, knead, or massage'. It originally referred to a therapeutic head massage in British India. During the 19th century, as commercial hair-cleaning products developed in Europe, the term shifted from the massage action to the liquid soap used during the treatment. By the early 1900s, 'shampoo' had become the standard English word for both the cleaning liquid and the act of washing hair.