cheekadjacent

Cheekadjacent is a neologistic English adjective and rarely used noun that denotes something located near the cheek but not on the cheek itself. It is encountered primarily in informal or specialized contexts such as cosmetic labeling, dermatology notes, prosthetic design, and anatomical descriptions where precision about facial location is needed but standard terms are lacking.

Formed by combining the noun cheek with the adjective adjacent, the term is not listed in major dictionaries and does not have a formal etymology beyond its word-formation. In formal writing, more specific anatomical terms (for example, buccal region, malar region, zygomatic area) are typically preferred.

It tends to describe regions or items proximal to the cheek's surface or border, including skin areas near the cheek, subcutaneous tissue adjacent to the cheek, or devices and products applied around the cheek. Because cheekadjacent is not standardized, its meaning can vary by author; writers are advised to define the intended locus when using it.

Related terms include buccal (relating to the cheek), malar (relating to the cheekbone), zygomatic (relating to the surrounding bone), and perioral (around the mouth).