pompadour

noun

pom·​pa·​dour ˈpäm-pə-ˌdȯr 

1

a

: a man's style of hairdressing in which the hair is combed into a high mound in front

b

: a woman's style of hairdressing in which the hair is brushed into a loose full roll around the face

2

: hair dressed in a pompadour

pompadoured

ˈpäm-pə-ˌdȯrd 

adjective

Examples of pompadour in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the crowd, Taraji P. Henson and her hairstylist Tym Wallace showed up in matching opalescent grills with the former in a dirty blonde pompadour pixie. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 12 May 2025

The play culminates with Snook in a blond pompadour, and in what almost resembles Elvis drag. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 May 2025

By the 2000s, her bold lip remained, however her short hair (which saw shapes like pompadours and bobs) grew into her slick-back era. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 17 Mar. 2025

Johansen started over with a NYC lounge act as Buster Poindexter, crooning R&B oldies in a tux and pompadour. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Marquise de Pompadour

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

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Kids Definition

pompadour

noun

pom·​pa·​dour ˈpäm-pə-ˌdō(ə)r 

-ˌdȯ(ə)r

: a hairdo in which the hair is combed high over the forehead

also : hair dressed in this style

Biographical Definition

Pompadour

biographical name

Pom·​pa·​dour ˈpäm-pə-ˌdȯr 

-ˌdu̇r

Madame de 1721–1764 Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson; mistress of Louis XV