1
: a very slender line: such as
a
: a tiny line or crack on a surface
a hairline bone fracture
b
: a fine line connecting thicker strokes in a printed letter
2
3
a
: a textile design consisting of lengthwise or crosswise lines usually one thread wide
b
: a fabric with such a design
4
a
: the outline of scalp hair especially on the forehead
b
: the way the hair frames the face
hairline
adjective
Examples of hairline in a Sentence
The plate had a hairline running across it.
He has a receding hairline.
Recent Examples on the Web
Our testers were relieved to finally find an option that didn’t leave behind crispy hairlines and plasticky strands.
—
Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
One end of the spectrum are stress fracture, which are very small, often described as hairline fractures that result from repetitive force and pounding to the bone over time.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
There was also the recent disclosure that Tucker was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right hand back in June, which turned out to be his best month as a Cub.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Pelphrey leaned into the look, with Ingelsby’s encouragement, especially because of his roots — the East Coast ones, not his hairline.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hairline
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Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
One end of the spectrum are stress fracture, which are very small, often described as hairline fractures that result from repetitive force and pounding to the bone over time.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
There was also the recent disclosure that Tucker was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right hand back in June, which turned out to be his best month as a Cub.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Pelphrey leaned into the look, with Ingelsby’s encouragement, especially because of his roots — the East Coast ones, not his hairline.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hairline
Cite this Entry
“Hairline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hairline. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hairline
noun
hair·line
ˈha(ə)r-ˌlīn 
ˈhe(ə)r-
1
a
: a very slender line
b
: a very thin crack on a surface
a hairline bone fracture
2
: the outline of the hair on the head and especially on the forehead
hairline
adjective
Medical Definition
hairline
noun
hair·line
-ˈlīn
: the outline of scalp hair especially on the forehead
hairline
adjective
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