Standard Lemma guide

vernix

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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  • UK: /ˈvɜːnɪks/
  • US: /ˈvɝnɪks/

1

noun

Meaning 1

Vernix caseosa; a fatty deposit covering the skin of newborn babies.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: medicine, obstetrics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a white cheeselike protective material that covers the skin of a fetus

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: vernix caseosa

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: material, stuff

History

Etymology

Derived from Medieval Latin vernix (“varnish”).