Toner is a fine powder used in laser printers and photocopiers to create text and images on paper. Unlike inkjet printers that spray liquid ink, laser printers use this dry powder, which gets electrically charged and attracted to specific spots on a page, then heated until it melts and bonds to the paper.

When a printer runs out of toner, the pages it produces start looking faint or develop blank streaks. You replace toner by installing a new toner cartridge, a plastic container that holds the powder and feeds it into the printer. Because toner is a very fine powder, it can make quite a mess if a cartridge breaks or gets dropped.

The word also refers to a liquid people use on their skin as part of a skincare routine. This kind of toner helps clean and refresh the face after washing, removing any leftover dirt or makeup.