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

North styled her electric blue hair in pigtails for the performance and swapped out her signature all-black aesthetic for a white lacy bonnet, a white military-style jacket cinched with buckles, and a ruffled skirt. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 Sep. 2026

Alex Taylor, a lifestyle influencer and news anchor in Ohio, posted a video with her long-time friend, Rachel, seeing each other in pigtails for the first time. — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026

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

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