What does pedicured mean?
Pedicured means that someone has received a pedicure, a cosmetic treatment in which the toenails and feet are cleaned, trimmed, and polished. It is normally used as an adjective, especially in phrases such as “freshly pedicured feet,” and can carry a mildly formal or promotional tone when used in descriptions of beauty treatments, fashion, or personal grooming. The word may also suggest that the feet are not merely maintained but have received special attention. In its verb form, pedicured is the past tense and past participle of pedicure, meaning to perform such a treatment. Although closely associated with nail care, the word applies specifically to the feet rather than the hands. Its use is established in both British and American English, with the final syllable commonly pronounced with an alveolar rhotic in American English.
Having had the feet and toenails cleaned, trimmed, and polished.
"The model relaxed on the beach with her perfectly pedicured feet."
Common in personal-grooming, fashion, beauty, and promotional contexts.
Past tense and past participle of pedicure: to treat the feet and toenails by cleaning, trimming, and polishing them.
"She pedicured her feet before the summer holiday."
Usually transitive and commonly used in the sense of providing a cosmetic treatment to the feet.
A pedicure turns foot care into finishing work, giving the feet a neat, polished appearance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pedicured come from?
The word comes from French pédicure, which was borrowed from Latin pedicura, a term associated with caring for the feet. Latin pedicura was formed from roots meaning “foot” and “care,” while English developed pedicure as a noun and verb and pedicured as a verb form and adjective. Related English derivatives include pedicurist and pedicurable.
Related word forms
How pedicured is actually used
The adjectival use is common in descriptions of personal grooming, fashion, beauty, and advertisements, where it may imply that the feet are especially well maintained. It is not usually used in formal or technical writing.
Easily confused with pedicured
Manicured usually describes the fingernails and hands, whereas pedicured refers specifically to the feet and toenails.