pompadour

noun

pom·​pa·​dour ˈpäm-pə-ˌdȯr 

1

a

: a man's style of hairdressing in which the hair is combed into a high mound in front

b

: a woman's style of hairdressing in which the hair is brushed into a loose full roll around the face

2

: hair dressed in a pompadour

pompadoured

ˈpäm-pə-ˌdȯrd 

adjective

Examples of pompadour in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One side of her part is slicked down and sleek, while the other has more volume near her face and at the crown for that pompadour effect. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 25 Mar. 2024

The The Idea of You star transformed herself into a sleek seductress with a faux pompadour pixie hairstyle and deep, dark vampy lipstick and eye shadow to match. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 25 Mar. 2024

His Orin, though, is a villain straight out of Cartoon Network, all burgundy pompadour and quivering jowl. —Sophia Nguyen, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024

From middle parts to pompadours to colorful mohawks, Mike’s portfolio is insane. —Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024

The star, 28, topped off her look with a pompadour created by celebrity hairstylist and Virtue Creative Director Adir Abergel. —Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 11 Jan. 2024

Florence Pugh’s Cool-Girl Quiff After colorist Matt Rez created a dimensional icy blonde shade throughout, hairstylist Adir Abergel designed a multi-faceted look that included twists up the back and a pompadour on top. —Meg Hemphill, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2024

And the frosting is this pompadour of vanilla and milk. —New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023

With his icy good looks, rockabilly-esque pompadour and vintage gold-top Gibson guitar, Mr. Walker helped define the look as well as the sound of Killing Joke during its peak in the 1980s and ’90s. —Alex Williams, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Marquise de Pompadour

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

pompadour

noun

pom·​pa·​dour ˈpäm-pə-ˌdō(ə)r 

-ˌdȯ(ə)r

: a hairdo in which the hair is combed high over the forehead

also : hair dressed in this style

Biographical Definition

Pompadour

biographical name

Pom·​pa·​dour ˈpäm-pə-ˌdȯr 

-ˌdu̇r

Madame de 1721–1764 Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson; mistress of Louis XV