What does epilation mean?
Epilation is the removal of unwanted body hair by pulling it out from beneath the skin's surface rather than cutting it off. Unlike depilation, which removes hair only at the level of the skin (as shaving does), epilation extracts each hair together with its root — through methods such as waxing, plucking, threading, or the use of an epilator device. Because the follicle is emptied, results last noticeably longer than with surface removal, often several weeks. The term is somewhat formal and clinical, appearing frequently in dermatological literature and cosmetic marketing, while everyday conversation tends to favor the name of the specific technique. It derives ultimately from the Latin pilus, meaning hair, making it a close relative of words like depilatory. For anyone navigating beauty, medical, or grooming contexts, it provides a precise umbrella term for all root-level hair-removal practices.
nounThe removal of body hair, especially by pulling it out from the root, as with waxing or plucking.
- The removal of hair by extracting it from the root, whether mechanically (plucking, waxing) or by other methods.
"Regular epilation left her skin smooth for weeks at a time."
"She scheduled her epilation appointment a few days before the wedding."
"Laser epilation offers a longer-lasting alternative to repeated waxing sessions."
The word 'caterpillar' literally means 'hairy cat' in old French — it shares its Latin root for hair with 'epilation.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of epilation
Epilation comes from the French épiler, formed from the Latin e- (out) plus pilus (hair). The underlying root is the same one that gives English 'depilatory' — an agent that removes hair — and, more surprisingly, 'caterpillar,' whose Old French ancestor meant roughly 'hairy cat' in reference to the creature's bristly coat. The word entered English in the early modern period and remains anchored to its original sense of hair extraction.
Related word forms
How epilation is actually used
A somewhat formal or technical term, common in dermatology and cosmetics contexts; everyday speech more often names the specific method, such as waxing or plucking.
Easily confused with epilation
Depilation removes hair only at the skin's surface (as with shaving), while epilation removes it from the root.