Definition of TONSORIAL

Did You Know?

Tonsorial is a fancy word that describes the work of those who give shaves and haircuts. (It can apply more broadly to hairdressers as well.) It derives from the Latin verb tondēre, meaning "to shear, clip or crop." (Another descendant, "tonsor," is an archaic word for a barber.) You might be more familiar with the related noun "tonsure," which refers to the shaven crown or patch worn by monks and other clerics, or the religious rite of clipping the head of one being admitted as a cleric. The verb tonsure means "to shave the head of."

Examples of tonsorial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a school full of mean kids, her tonsorial nightmare makes her an easy target. — Sheri Linden, latimes.com, "Even the movie itself is having a bad hair day in 'Permanent'," 15 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tonsorial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.