topknot

noun

top·​knot ˈtäp-ˌnät 

plural topknots

1

: an ornament (such as a knot of ribbons or a pompom) forming a headdress or worn as part of a coiffure

2

: an arrangement of hair high on the head and usually in a knot

The dome light lit the inside of the car like a shadow box, but the car was packed with bags nearly to the ceiling and Mrs. Richardson could only just make out the faint silhouette of Mia's head, the messy topknot perched at the crown of her head.

—Celeste Ng

3

: a crest of feathers or tuft of hair on the top of the head

Examples of topknot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The look was tied together with Jackson’s hair pulled into a topknot with a natural makeup look. —Rachel Flynn, People.com, 27 May 2025

Jackson arrived at the show in a beauty look that took inspiration from Vivienne Westwood’s spring 2012 show where models stepped out with vibrant yellow and pink-painted eyelids and topknot hairstyles. —Marissa Muller, WWD, 8 Mar. 2025

The low-key pair stepped out in casual duds to grab lunch, with the Twilight star sporting a messy topknot in an unmistakable platinum shade. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 21 Jan. 2025

The Colombian singer wore his teal tresses in twists, while Ferrer, an Argentinian model, sported a nude lip and a sleek topknot. —Hannah Malach, WWD, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for topknot

• allot
• barat
• begot
• besought
• bethought
• bloodshot
• boycott
• buckshot
• crackpot
• croat
• culottes
• dashpot

Kids Definition

topknot

noun

top·​knot ˈtäp-ˌnät 

: a tuft of feathers or hair on the top of the head