hair follicle

noun

: the tubular epithelial sheath that surrounds the lower part of the hair shaft and encloses at the bottom a vascular papilla supplying the growing basal part of the hair with nourishment see hair illustration

Examples of hair follicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, previous bloodwork showed no major red flags and according to this analysis, my hair follicles were healthy and active, just my hairs per follicle were low—meaning my hair loss was likely due to something else. —Brianna Peters, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2025

New drugs to treat alopecia areata called JAK inhibitors were approved in just the last few years, which target the part of the immune system that has become overactive and attacks the hair follicles. —Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025

This ecosystem includes face mites, a microorganism that lives within hair follicles, as described by another display in the exhibit. —Sophia Arndt, Twin Cities, 22 Nov. 2025

Telogen effluvium is a condition that pushes an abnormal amount of hair follicles into the telogen phase, leading to more shedding than usual. —Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hair follicle

• diabolical
• symbolical

Kids Definition

hair follicle

noun

: the tube-shaped sheath surrounding the lower part of a hair shaft

Medical Definition

hair follicle

noun

: the tubular epithelial sheath that surrounds the lower part of the hair shaft and encloses at the bottom a vascular papilla supplying the growing basal part of the hair with nourishment