pigtail

noun

pig·​tail ˈpig-ˌtāl 

plural pigtails

1

: tobacco in small twisted strands or rolls

2

: a lock of hair that has been gathered and banded or braided together at the back or side of the head

The hostess wore a peasant blouse and skirt and had her hair done up in a single thick pigtail …

—John Updike

—often used in the plural for a hairstyle in which two such locks or braids of hair are worn on either side of the head

a little girl in pigtails

… there's another hairstyle you should definitely try this year: Pigtails … I mean twin high ponytails that sprout from the top or sides of your head and kind of look like animal ears …

—Erica Smith

Examples of pigtail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the end of the fifth group, one girl’s face blossomed into a radiant flower, and another drew herself with luxuriant pigtails, standing beneath a bright red beating heart. — James Gordon, Time, 14 July 2026

On Friday, June 26, the budding musician wore blue pigtails, teamed with an all-black outfit and her finger and face piercings, for her front row appearance, which actually wasn’t her first. — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

Later, the hood fell off, revealing her pigtails tied with pink and purple hairbands. — Miami Herald, 25 June 2026

Anthurium Beloved by florists, anthurium—also called flamingo flower, laceleaf, and pigtail plant—is long-lasting both on the plant and when cut. — Kate Nateras, Architectural Digest, 10 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pigtail

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email

Kids Definition

pigtail

noun

pig·​tail -ˌtāl 

: a tight braid of hair

pigtailed

-ˌtāld

adjective