lanugo
noun
la·nu·go
lə-ˈnü-(ˌ)gō 
-ˈnyü-
-ˈnyü-
: a dense cottony or downy growth of hair
specifically
: the soft woolly hair that covers the fetus of some mammals
Examples of lanugo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gray seals are born with a covering of white hair, called lanugo.
—
Aimee Levitt, Chicago Reader, 9 Jan. 2018
For people with werewolf syndrome, the lanugo does not shed and continues growing on the baby’s body.
—Dr. Manny Alvarez, Fox News, 20 June 2017
Here's where the box gets a little, erm, weird: A larger groove for the umbilical cord and a smaller section for lanugo, the fine hair that covers a newborn's body after birth, are front and center.
—Sarah Schreiber, Good Housekeeping, 20 Dec. 2016
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Aimee Levitt, Chicago Reader, 9 Jan. 2018
For people with werewolf syndrome, the lanugo does not shed and continues growing on the baby’s body.
—Dr. Manny Alvarez, Fox News, 20 June 2017
Here's where the box gets a little, erm, weird: A larger groove for the umbilical cord and a smaller section for lanugo, the fine hair that covers a newborn's body after birth, are front and center.
—Sarah Schreiber, Good Housekeeping, 20 Dec. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Lanugo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lanugo. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lanugo
noun
la·nu·go
lə-ˈnü-gō
-ˈnyü-
: a growth of hair resembling cotton or down
especially
: the soft hair that covers the fetus of some mammals including humans
Medical Definition
lanugo
noun
la·nu·go
lə-ˈn(y)ü-(ˌ)gō
: a dense cottony or downy growth of hair
specifically
: the soft downy hair that covers the fetus of some mammals
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