hair

noun

ˈher 

often attributive

1

a

: a slender threadlike outgrowth of the epidermis of an animal

especially : one of the usually pigmented filaments that form the characteristic coat of a mammal

b

: the hairy covering of an animal or a body part

especially : the coating of hairs on a human head

2

: haircloth

3

a

: a minute distance or amount

won by a hair

b

: a precise degree

aligned to a hair

4

obsolete : nature, character

5

: a filamentous structure that resembles hair

leaf hair

hairless adjective

hairlessness noun

hairlike

ˈher-ˌlīk 

adjective

see also:

hide or hair in one's hair let one's hair down out of one's hair split hairs tear one's hair turn a hair

Illustration of hair

• 1 shaft
• 2 sebaceous gland
• 3 epidermis
• 4 dermis
• 5 hair follicle
• 6 bulb
• 7 papilla

Synonyms of hair

• inch
• neck
• step
• hairline

Examples of hair in a Sentence

He plucked a hair from his arm.

There are dog hairs all over my coat.

The hair on her arms is blond.

He has a lot of hair on his chest.

He got his hair cut last week.

He has a thick head of hair.

a balding man who is losing his hair

He won the race by a hair.

He was a hair off on the count.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Lilyeve Growturn Exosome Brush Ampoule can be used on wet or dry hair and is safe for regular application, never leaving heaviness in its wake. — Sophie Dunne, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

And with estimates starting as low as 120 Singapore dollars ($95), for a Miu Miu ring or a Gucci hair clip, these items aren’t just for the ultra-wealthy. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

His hair has the swoop of the Robert Redford style and the voice the resonance of a Lorne Greene school of broadcasting. — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026

Recovery Shampoo & Conditioner work to rebuild damaged hair with each use. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hǣr; akin to Old High German hār hair

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hair

• angel-hair pasta
• baby hair
• bad hair day
• big hair
• camel hair
• camel's hair
• full head of hair
• guard hair
• hair ball
• hair care
• hair cell
• hair dryer
• hair follicle
• hair gel
• hair metal
• hair of the dog (that bit you)
• hair-raiser
• hair-raising
• hair's breadth
• hair seal
• hair shirt
• hair slide
• hair spray
• hair style
• hair stylist
• hair trigger
• hide nor hair
• hide or hair
• in one's hair
• keep your hair on
• let one's hair down
• long-hair
• make one's hair curl
• make one's hair stand on end
• not have a hair out of place
• not turn a hair
• out of one's hair
• pull one's hair out
• root hair
• short hair
• tear one's hair
• tear one's hair out
• turn a hair
• Venus hair
• Venus hair fern

Rhymes for hair

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

hair

noun

ˈha(ə)r 

ˈhe(ə)r

1

a

: a slender threadlike growth from the skin of an animal

especially : one that usually contains coloring and forms part of the characteristic coat of a mammal

b

: a covering or growth of hairs of an animal or a body part

2

: a tiny distance or amount

won by a hair

3

: a threadlike structure that resembles hair

leaf hairs

haired

ˈha(ə)rd, 

ˈhe(ə)rd

adjective

hairless

ˈha(ə)r-ləs, 

ˈhe(ə)r-

adjective

hairlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

Medical Definition

hair

noun

ˈha(ə)r, ˈhe(ə)r 

often attributive

1

: a slender threadlike outgrowth of the epidermis of an animal

especially : one of the usually pigmented filaments that form the characteristic coat of a mammal

2

: the hairy covering of an animal or a body part

especially : the coating of hairs on a human head

hairlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective