pout

Pout is a facial expression produced by protruding the lips forward. It is commonly used to express displeasure, longing, or attention-seeking, and has become a popular pose in photography and social media, sometimes referred to as a pout or duck face. The expression involves the lips and surrounding facial muscles and can vary in intensity from a mild purse to a pronounced protrusion.

In biology, pout is also the common name for several small gadiform fish in the genus Trisopterus. The European pout (Trisopterus luscus) is the best-known species and is found in the Northeast Atlantic and North Sea. Pouts are demersal fish that inhabit sandy or muddy bottoms at various depths and feed on small crustaceans, worms, and fish. They are caught commercially in some regions and consumed fresh.

In contemporary usage, the term pout is often associated with cosmetics and beauty standards, referring to a full, protruding lip shape. It is also used in fashion and media to describe a pouty look intended to appear sultry or charming. The word can thus refer to both a physical facial gesture and a range of cultural associations tied to appearance.