cameo

noun

cam·​eo ˈka-mē-ˌō How to pronounce cameo (audio)
plural cameos
1
a
: a gem carved in relief (see relief entry 1 sense 6)
especially : a small piece of sculpture on a stone or shell cut in relief in one layer with another contrasting layer serving as background
b
: a small medallion (see medallion sense 2) with a profiled head in relief
2
: a carving or sculpture made in the manner of a cameo
3
: a usually brief literary or filmic piece that brings into delicate or sharp relief the character of a person, place, or event
his cameos and short commentaries on men and mannersR. T. Dunlop
4
: a small theatrical role usually performed by a well-known actor and often limited to a single scene
A major star appears in a cameo in the movie.
broadly : a brief appearance or role
cameo adjective
cameo verb, transitive + intransitive

Examples of cameo in a Sentence

He has a brief cameo in the film.
Recent Examples on the Web Fans of Star Trek will also want to check this one out for a memorable cameo from Jonathan Frakes, whose connection (or lack thereof) to what is going on becomes a mystery of its own. 7. EW.com, 6 June 2024 In 2022, Pompeo was asked about the possibility of Swift making a cameo on the ABC medical drama. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 5 June 2024 The video is hypercharged by three surefire paths to virality in this era of social media: nostalgia, shock value, and celebrity cameos. Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 31 May 2024 The clip features cameos by Dr. Dre, Pete Davidson, Snoop Dogg, Shane Gillis, 50 Cent, Paul Rosenberg and even the blonde version of the rapper who dominated the early 2000s. Spin Staff, SPIN, 31 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for cameo 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cameo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English camew, from Middle French camau, kamaheu

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cameo was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near cameo

Cite this Entry

“Cameo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cameo. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

cameo

noun
cam·​eo ˈkam-ē-ˌō How to pronounce cameo (audio)
plural cameos
1
: a carved gem in which the design is higher than its background
2
: a small role (as in a movie) performed by a well-known actor
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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