melanin

noun/ˈmɛlənɪn/

Frequency rank: #15,307 most common English word

Meaning

A dark pigment found in skin, hair, and eyes that determines their color and protects against UV radiation.

Illustration for the English word “melanin”

Example sentence

Exposure to sunlight causes the skin to produce more melanin, which is why tanning occurs.

Synonyms & related words

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