hairpin

1 of 2

noun

hair·​pin ˈher-ˌpin 

1

: a pin to hold the hair in place

specifically : a long U-shaped pin

2

: something shaped like a hairpin

specifically : a sharp U-shaped turn in a road

hairpin

2 of 2

adjective

: having the shape of a hairpin

a hairpin turn

also : having hairpin turns

a steep hairpin road

Examples of hairpin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

See treasures Human remains that had been burned were also found inside the tomb, along with grave goods like a black-glazed porcelain basin, a white porcelain cup, a bronze mirror, a jade hairpin, a wooden comb and an epitaph, or tombstone. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025

Another win for weather-resistant bistro furniture, this set brings the two-seater classic into the present day with sleek metal curves and elegant hairpin legs. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 7 Apr. 2025

Adjective

Its fluted drawer fronts, golden pulls, and hairpin legs give it an elevated look. —Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2025

But a few days before Christmas, a string quartet hauled its instruments up the hairpin stone pathway, into a Franklin Hills living room for a monthly house-show series. —August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1771, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hairpin

noun

hair·​pin

-ˌpin

1

: a U-shaped pin to hold the hair in place

2

: something shaped like a hairpin

especially : an extremely sharp turn in a road

hairpin adjective

Medical Definition

hairpin

noun

hair·​pin ˈha(ə)r-ˌpin, ˈhe(ə)r- 

variants also hairpin loop

: a region in single-stranded RNA or DNA that is double-stranded due to pairing between purine and pyrimidine bases in adjacent sequences of the RNA or DNA that are complementary and inverted