Phrase guide

sun protection factor

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective when applied to the skin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • If someone normally burns in 10 minutes with no sunscreen, then a sunscreen with sun protection factor 20 will provide protection for up to 20 × 10 = 200 minutes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the degree to which a sunscreen protects the skin from the direct rays of the sun

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: SPF

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: degree, grade, level

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 防曬係數 /防晒系数 (fángshài xìshù) — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective
  • Chinese Mandarin: 防曬指數 /防晒指数 (fángshài zhǐshù) — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective
  • Chinese Mandarin: 防日光係數 /防日光系数 (fángrìguāng xìshù) — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective
  • Finnish: auringonsuojakerroin — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective
  • Finnish: suojakerroin — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective
  • French: indice de protection solaire — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective
  • German: Lichtschutzfaktor — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective
  • Norwegian Bokmål: solfaktor — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: solfaktor — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective
  • Polish: wskaźnik ochrony przeciwsłonecznej — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective
  • Spanish: factor de protección solar — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective
  • Swedish: solskyddsfaktor — an indication of how long a sunscreen remains effective