English · Word Candidate

scar

/skɑɹ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: scars · scarring · scarred

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A permanent mark on the skin, sometimes caused by the healing of a wound.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A permanent negative effect on someone's mind, caused by a traumatic experience.

Noun

Examples

Thus, it is wise to avoid cultivating an emotional scar, as it can play havoc with your happiness and success.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To mark the skin permanently.

Verb

Examples

Yet I'll not shed her blood; / Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To form a scar.

Verb

Examples

Iron and coal were the magnets that drew railways to this land of lovely valleys and silent mountains—for such it was a century-and-a-half ago, before man blackened the valleys with the smoke of his forges, scarred the green hills with his shafts and waste-heaps, and drove the salmon from the quiet

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “scar” mean?

A permanent mark on the skin, sometimes caused by the healing of a wound.

Is “scar” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.