What does melanin mean?
Melanin is a brown or black pigment made by the body and found in the skin, hair, and eyes. It is produced by specialised cells called melanocytes, and the amount and distribution of melanin largely account for natural variations in colouring. Melanin also has an important protective function: ultraviolet radiation stimulates its production, helping the skin reduce damage from sunlight. The term is common in biology, medicine, dermatology, and discussions of skin colour or pigmentation. In scientific writing, melanin may refer either to the pigment itself or to the general process and properties associated with it. Although the word is often associated with skin colour, it also has a broader significance in the study of hair and eye colour, ageing, tanning, and conditions involving changes in pigmentation.
nounA dark brown or black pigment produced by the body, especially in the skin, hair, and eyes. The amount and distribution of melanin help determine skin, hair, and eye colour and provide protection from ultraviolet radiation.
- The brown or black biological pigment found in the skin, hair, and eyes.
- The pigment's colouring and protective properties considered collectively, especially in relation to skin and hair.
"Increased exposure to sunlight can stimulate the production of melanin in the skin."
"The amount of melanin in the skin varies greatly between people."
"Some types of skin cancer are more common in people with lower levels of melanin."
The plural is used when referring to different types or forms of melanin.
"Different melanins may be found in the skin, hair, and eyes."
Melanin is the pigment behind much of the body's colouring, but its production also acts as a natural shield against ultraviolet light.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does melanin come from?
Melanin comes from the Greek adjective melas, meaning “black” or “dark”, combined with the chemical suffix -in. The term was developed in the 19th century to name the dark pigment found in the body. Related English words include melanocyte, a pigment-producing cell, melanogenesis, the formation of melanin, and melanoma, a tumour historically described as arising from dark pigment.
Related word forms
How melanin is actually used
In biological and medical contexts, melanin is standard in both British and American English. The word is also used more broadly in discussions of skin colour and pigmentation, where it may appear in formal, scientific, and public-health writing.