coiffure

noun

coif·​fure kwä-ˈfyu̇r 

: a style or manner of arranging the hair

I love his eerily perfect coiffure and his … impish smile …

—Scott Raab

Did you know?

Coiffure, which is a somewhat fancy way of saying "hairdo," has its roots in 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)." Be careful not to confuse it with coiffeur, which refers to a person who works as a hairdresser. You may also encounter coif used as a noun to mean "hairstyle" and as a verb in the sense of "to arrange by brushing, combing, or curling" (as in "he had perfectly coifed hair"). In these cases, coif is operating as a shortened form of coiffure.

Synonyms

• hairdo
• hairstyle
• haircut
• ponytail

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

The parade of state champions has done it with flair, both in their performance and their coiffure. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 17 May 2025

The term hair-raising takes on new meaning as two performers contort their bodies high above the stage, connected only by their coiffures. —Karen D'souza, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025

To further see the blending of styles, Elvis' iconic pompadour coiffure also rocked the fashion of the day, making for an interesting addition to this groovy getup. —Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2025

But often overlooked are the clothes that accompany the coiffure. —Leah Dolan, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, "head covering, adornment of the hair," from coiffer "to cover with a coif, arrange (hair)" (going back to Old French coiffer, coifer, derivative of coife coif entry 1) + -ure -ure

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for coiffure

• abjure
• adjure
• allure
• assure
• brochure
• cocksure
• contour
• couture
• demure
• detour
• endure
• ensure

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Kids Definition

coiffure

noun

coif·​fure kwä-ˈfyu̇(ə)r 

: a style or manner of arranging the hair