A pockmark is a small hollow scar or pit in a surface, especially someone's skin. The word originally described the scars left by smallpox, a devastating disease that once killed millions but has been eradicated through vaccination. These scars looked like tiny craters dotting a person's face.

Today, pockmark describes any similar-looking marks or holes. An old wooden desk might be pockmarked with dents and scratches from years of use. The moon's surface is pockmarked with craters from meteor impacts. A wall pockmarked by bullets tells the story of a battle fought long ago.

When something is described as pockmarked, it means the surface has many small indentations, giving it a rough, uneven texture rather than being smooth.

You might read about asteroid impacts that pockmarked ancient Earth, or buildings pockmarked by weathering and time. The word captures both the physical appearance of these small hollows and often suggests a history of damage or hardship that left its mark.