OET Medical Vocabulary, Word of the Day
Dimple (Cheek Indentation) – Meaning and Usage in Medical English
Oct
A dimple is a small natural indentation in the skin, most often on the cheeks, that appears or deepens when a person smiles.
Have you ever noticed the small hollow that appears on someone’s cheek when they smile?
Those charming little features have a clear name in medical English. Today’s term is dimple.
👁 What Does “Dimple” Mean?
A dimple refers to a small natural indentation in the skin, most commonly found on the cheeks.
The word comes from Middle English and Germanic origins, meaning a small hollow or pit.
Although seen as a cosmetic trait rather than an anatomical structure, dimples are described in medical contexts when observing facial features, craniofacial variation, or surgical outcomes.
They are often present from birth due to a variation in the zygomaticus major muscle, which creates a visible indentation when a person smiles.
Try OET Practice Questions for Free
Exam-style questions with every answer explained.
Listening · Reading · Writing · Speaking — No sign-up needed
🔍 Clinical Usage
Dimples are generally benign and are not considered a medical problem.
However, they can be relevant in specific clinical situations, such as facial nerve assessment, dermatological evaluation, or cosmetic discussions.
Healthcare professionals may reference dimples in:
- Physical examination notes describing facial symmetry
- Pre- or post-operative cosmetic assessments
- Genetic or craniofacial evaluations where prominent facial features are documented
Short clinical example:
“Dimples visible symmetrically on smiling; no facial nerve weakness observed.”
Dimples may also be intentionally created through a cosmetic procedure known as dimpleplasty, which some patients pursue for aesthetic reasons.
🎥 Watch the Short Video
👉 Watch our 20-second clip: Dimple – Learn how to pronounce it and remember how it is used in real medical English.
🔗 Related Words
Browse every term in our Medical English Body Parts A–Z guide.
