dreadlock
noun
dread·lock
ˈdred-ˌläk 
plural dreadlocks
1
: a narrow ropelike strand of hair formed by matting, braiding, or twisting : lock
2
Examples of dreadlock in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jesus has been portrayed as Korean, a Black man with dreadlocks, as an indigenous Māori with a full-faced tattoo, and even as a Black woman.
—
John Blake, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
For most of the academic year, Barbers Hill High School junior Darryl George has been in in-school suspension or at an off-site disciplinary program because school officials said George’s dreadlocks violated the district’s dress code.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024
Darryl George's dreadlocks are braided and wrapped up on top of his head.
—Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 25 Jan. 2024
Rastafarians, though, are known primarily by many casual observers for two elements of their religion: dreadlocks and the smoking of marijuana.
—John Blake, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
One woman even set up a salon chair during the demonstration to style dreadlocks in a show of support.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024
Mayowa, the shy one, had a head scarf holding back all but a few of his dreadlocks.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
Introducing Marley as the biracial son of a white Briton then a Natty Dread (natural dreadlocks) figure doesn’t suffice as the explanation for his quasi-revolutionary artistic expression.
—Armond White, National Review, 16 Feb. 2024
The group’s music, combined with their look of gold teeth and thick dreadlocks, would soon become synonymous with Miami style and inspire future generations of rappers including Vido’s own cousin, YD.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
John Blake, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
For most of the academic year, Barbers Hill High School junior Darryl George has been in in-school suspension or at an off-site disciplinary program because school officials said George’s dreadlocks violated the district’s dress code.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024
Darryl George's dreadlocks are braided and wrapped up on top of his head.
—Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 25 Jan. 2024
Rastafarians, though, are known primarily by many casual observers for two elements of their religion: dreadlocks and the smoking of marijuana.
—John Blake, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
One woman even set up a salon chair during the demonstration to style dreadlocks in a show of support.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024
Mayowa, the shy one, had a head scarf holding back all but a few of his dreadlocks.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
Introducing Marley as the biracial son of a white Briton then a Natty Dread (natural dreadlocks) figure doesn’t suffice as the explanation for his quasi-revolutionary artistic expression.
—Armond White, National Review, 16 Feb. 2024
The group’s music, combined with their look of gold teeth and thick dreadlocks, would soon become synonymous with Miami style and inspire future generations of rappers including Vido’s own cousin, YD.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dreadlock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Dreadlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dreadlock. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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