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

Whereas androgenetic alopecia is characterized by the shrinking of hair follicles, which leads to thin, barely noticeable hair, the key indicators of CCCA are inflammation and damage to the follicles. —Sierra Leone Starks, Allure, 24 June 2025

Some studies show that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil can nourish the hair follicles, which leads to stronger, healthier hair, less inflammation on the scalp, and an increase of blood flow to the hair follicles to stimulate hair growth. —Christina Pérez, Vogue, 23 June 2025

These old beauty standards were likely the reasons Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth underwent hairline electrolysis, a painful procedure that involves using a metal probe to zap individual hair follicles, permanently getting rid of any affected hair. —Jennifer Adams, StyleCaster, 19 May 2025

Since hair follicles contain stem cells that support skin healing, fewer hair follicles could translate into fewer stem cells and a slower mending of scrapes and scratches in humans. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 1 May 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