Highlighter

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Highlighter

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

HY-ly-tuh  /ˈhaɪlaɪtə/

Definition

A marker pen using fluorescent or bright ink to mark text for emphasis without obscuring it; a cosmetic product applied to the face to create a luminous, light-reflecting effect on cheekbones and other prominent features; in software, a function that visually marks selected or important text.

Plain meaning

A highlighter is either a bright felt-tip pen used to mark text in yellow, pink, or green, or a cosmetic used on the face to make cheekbones and brow bones look lit from within. Both share the core idea of making something visually stand out by adding light or colour.

Register

Neutral and practical. Highlighter in the stationery sense is standard everyday vocabulary. In the beauty sense it is standard cosmetics vocabulary. The syntax highlighter in software is standard in programming and text-editing contexts.