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

Nektar Therapeutics said Monday that extended treatment with its experimental drug, called rezpeg, promoted greater hair growth in people with severe alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that attacks hair follicles. —Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026

In Turkey, transplants are often performed not by doctors, but by technicians, who charge about $3,000 and use a variety of methods to move hair follicles from one part of the head to another. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026

In scalp hair follicles, the anagen phase can persist for several years, allowing continuous elongation of the hair shaft before the follicle transitions to catagen and telogen. —Kara Rogers, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026

The hair follicles affected by high levels of DHT may never fully return to normal. —Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026

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