zits

IPA/zɪt/
IPA/zɪt/

zits — noun

1. small, raised red or white spots on the skin that contain pus, especially on the

1.nounB1
Definition

small, raised red or white spots on the skin that contain pus, especially on the face — common among teenagers and young adults dealing with acne

Example

Nadia tried a new face wash for her chin zits before school photos.

collocation: clear up zits

Hassan felt nervous about the zits on his forehead, though his friends barely noticed them.

Common collocations
  • get zits
  • have zits
  • clear up zits
  • cover up zits
  • pick at zits
  • zit cream
  • zit breakout
Synonyms
  • pimple

    neutral register; the standard term for formal or medical contexts

  • spot

    British English term for a pimple on the face

  • blemish

    broader term that also covers scars, dark marks, and other skin imperfections

Grammar Patterns

have/get zits

cover up / clear up zits

Usage Note

Almost always used in the plural form. The singular form (a zit) exists but is far less common. This is an informal, slang term — use pimple or spot in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

I had a big zits on my nose.
I had a big zit on my nose.
The singular form is 'a zit', not 'a zits'.

Word family

  • zit
    nounB1
  • zitty
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all these words refer to skin imperfections, they differ in register and specificity. 'Zits' is the most informal and is strongly associated with teenage slang; it implies a visible, pus-filled bump. 'Pimple' is the neutral everyday word used by doctors and adults alike. 'Spot' is the common British equivalent of pimple. 'Blemish' is a broader, more formal term that covers any small mark or discolouration on the skin — not just raised bumps. 'Blackhead' refers specifically to a clogged pore with a dark surface, not the raised inflamed bump that a zit or pimple describes. For example: 'Oliver had a few blackheads on his nose, but his main concern was the angry red zit on his chin.'

pimple ↗spot ↗blemish ↗blackhead

Etymology

American English

The origin of 'zits' is uncertain, but the word first appeared in American student slang in the 1960s. It may be imitative — meant to sound like the popping of a pimple — or possibly related to German 'Zitze' (teat) or Yiddish 'tsits' (breast). The singular form 'zit' became common in the 1970s and 1980s through teen magazines and movies.

First known use

1965

1965, in the meaning defined above