wool

noun

ˈwu̇l 

often attributive

1

: the soft wavy or curly usually thick undercoat of various hairy mammals and especially the sheep made up of a matrix of keratin fibers and covered with minute scales

2

: a product of wool

especially : a woven fabric or garment of such fabric

3

a

: a dense felted pubescence especially on a plant : tomentum

b

: a filamentous mass

—usually used in combination compare mineral wool, steel wool

Synonyms of wool

• hair
• coat
• fleece
• fur

Examples of wool in a Sentence

She doesn't like wool because it can be itchy.

the wool from cashmere goats is considered by many to be the finest available

Recent Examples on the Web

Pietro Loro Piana founded the company as a wool mill in 1924 in the country’s Quarona. —Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 16 Feb. 2026

For the public event, Duwaji opted to rent a vintage funnel-neck wool Balenciaga coat from Albright Fashion Library and sculptural gold vintage earrings from New York Vintage. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2026

Seamless construction meant no chafing, the wide waistband sat comfortably against the belly, and the 100% wool material offered temperature-regulating bliss. —Anna Callaghan, Outside, 14 Feb. 2026

While it is typically added in small amounts—often 1 to 5 percent by weight in cotton or wool garments, and up to 20 percent in polyester or polyamide blends—those trace percentages carry outsized consequences. —Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wolle, from Old English wull; akin to Old High German wolla wool, Latin vellus fleece, lana wool

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wool

• combing wool
• cotton wool
• cotton wool ball
• dyed-in-the-wool
• glass wool
• lamb's wool
• mineral wool
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• pull the wool over someone's eyes
• Shetland wool
• steel wool
• virgin wool
• wire wool
• wool fat
• wool grease

Rhymes for wool

• full
• pull
• brimful
• handful
• mouthful
• roomful
• spoonful

Kids Definition

wool

noun

ˈwu̇l 

1

: the soft wavy or curly usually thick undercoat of various mammals and especially the sheep

2

: a fabric or garment made of wool

3

: material that resembles a mass of wool

wooled

ˈwu̇ld

adjective