barrette

noun bar·rette \ bä-ˈret , bə- \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Definition of barrette

: a clip or bar for holding hair in place

See barrette defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of barrette from the Web

If your bobby pins or barrettes tend to slide out of place, spray them with a little dry shampoo before using for a more secure hold.

— leah chernikoff, Redbook, "17 Who-Knew Brilliant Ways to Use Dry Shampoo," 12 June 2014
Students from the school’s cosmetology program taught the class, instructing the fathers on the right amount of moisturizer to use and how to clip in barrettes.

— talia richman, Washington Post, "Baltimore school works to build father-daughter relationships through hair care," 5 Mar. 2018
If hair barrettes were once reserved for prim schoolgirls and one moody Margot Tenenbaum, the Spring collections put the classic accessory on the fast-track to cool.

— zoe ruffner, Vogue, "This Celebrity-Approved Accessory Just Made Your Morning Routine Easier," 16 Jan. 2018
The prettiest hair idea from the spring '12 runways requires nothing fancier than a Goody barrette—the plain ol' drugstore kind.

— maureen sheen, Redbook, "Try This Trend: Clip Your Pony," 5 Feb. 2012
His hair and beard are matted and pinned with barrettes.

— gogo lidz, Newsweek, "Matt Damon Spills About 'The Martian'," 18 June 2015
Alanna Arrington's brunette lengths were pulled back into a romantic updo with soft spirals framing a headband of roses, while Chiara Scelsi, Michelle Gutknecht, and Emm Arruda sported their natural clouds of curls beneath bright gold barrettes.

— lauren valenti, Vogue, "These Glittering Headpieces Just Stole the Show on the Dolce & Gabbana Runway," 24 Sep. 2017
The year’s best lengths were aptly decorated and highly embellished, by way of bold headbands, crystal barrettes, dazzling tiaras, and haute rain gear.

— jenna rennert, Vogue, "The 9 Beauty Trends That Ruled 2017," 24 Dec. 2017
Tiffany lines up the hair bows and the barrettes on the kitchen table, then arranges nail colors -- soft pink, lavender, and pale blue, along with two bottles of orange and green infused with glitter, which were left over from Halloween.

— brenda cain, cleveland.com, "Slavic Village fifth-grader excited to host first sleepover: A Greater Cleveland," 13 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barrette.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.