Definition of COIFFURE

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First appearing in English in the 1630s, coiffure derives from the French verb coiffer, which can mean "to arrange (hair)" or "to cover with a coif (any of various close-fitting caps, such as that worn under a veil by a nun)." The word is now used as a somewhat fancy way of saying "hairdo." Be careful not to confuse it with "coiffeur," which refers to a man who works as a hairdresser (and of which "coiffeuse" is the female equivalent). You may also encounter "coif" used to mean "hairstyle" - in such cases, "coif" is operating as a shortened form of "coiffure."

Examples of coiffure in a Sentence

with his flashy suit and carefully sculpted coiffure, he looks like a slick car dealer

Recent Examples on the Web

While such glowing self-assuredness is the ultimate goal of any fresh coiffure, the issues of race and culture that weigh on hair like a tacky pomade don’t just vanish with a good shampoo. — Leilani Marie Labong, SFChronicle.com, "At the Culture of Hair salon, the mission is top of mind — and head," 5 July 2018 Kaia hit the runway yesterday, July 4, at the Valentino Haute Couture show in Paris, dressed in a gorgeous, show-stopping pink off-the-shoulder feathered gown with a seriously hair-raising coiffure to match. — Kara Nesvig, Teen Vogue, "Kaia Gerber Wears Dramatic Back-Combed Wig at Valentino Haute Couture Paris Show," 5 July 2018 That antagonist was played by actress Selena Gomez, who appeared in a black wig and dark makeup that some said was quite similar to Perry’s coiffure and look at the time. — Michael Gold, BostonGlobe.com, "Katy Perry and Taylor Swift’s ‘bad blood’ ended with an olive branch. Here’s how it started," 10 May 2018 Gotti, who died in prison 2002, likewise had a little glamour with his fondness for cameras and his carefully swept-back coiffure. — Jake Coyle, chicagotribune.com, "John Travolta dances his way through Cannes again with 'Gotti'," 16 May 2018 The move is a natural one, as Malik is something of an above-neck chameleon, ricocheting between coiffures colored pink, blue, and raven, and shearing off both hair and signature stubble on occasion. — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, "Zayn Malik Goes Platinum—and Proves Post-Breakup Hair is Real," 21 Mar. 2018 Blending in, however, turned out to be a whole lot harder than my coiffure choices and a tolerance for bathrooms devoid of toilet paper. — Sara Lieberman, Allure, "Traveling Alone at 37 Changed How I Felt About My Gray Hair," 21 Mar. 2018 Maratti, also known as Maratta, depicted his bride swathed in shimmering lavender-blue drapery, with an elaborate coiffure. — Steven Litt, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Museum of Art acquires Italian portrait, African sculptures, Weston photos (photos)," 14 Mar. 2018 Along with Weir’s coiffure, the breakout star at Pyeongchang has been Liz Swaney. — David Whitley, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Johnny Weir's hair and I will star in next Winter Olympics," 24 Feb. 2018

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