hair

noun

ˈher How to pronounce hair (audio)
Synonyms of hairnext
often attributive
1
a
: a slender threadlike outgrowth of the epidermis of an animal
especially : one of the usually pigmented filaments that form the characteristic coat of a mammal
b
: the hairy covering of an animal or a body part
especially : the coating of hairs on a human head
2
: haircloth
3
a
: a minute distance or amount
won by a hair
b
: a precise degree
aligned to a hair
4
obsolete : nature, character
5
: a filamentous structure that resembles hair
leaf hair
hairless adjective
hairlessness noun
hairlike
ˈher-ˌlīk How to pronounce hair (audio)
adjective
see also:
hide or hair in one's hair let one's hair down out of one's hair split hairs tear one's hair turn a hair

Illustration of hair

Illustration of hair
  • 1 shaft
  • 2 sebaceous gland
  • 3 epidermis
  • 4 dermis
  • 5 hair follicle
  • 6 bulb
  • 7 papilla

Synonyms of hair

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Examples of hair in a Sentence

He plucked a hair from his arm. There are dog hairs all over my coat. The hair on her arms is blond. He has a lot of hair on his chest. He got his hair cut last week. He has a thick head of hair. a balding man who is losing his hair He won the race by a hair. He was a hair off on the count.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Half of her hair was fixed into a bun at the back of her head, while the rest was left to cascade down her spine, eclipsed under her veil. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2026 Darian Orduno bounced her baby boy on her chest, looking down at his thick black hair and bright eyes. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 People with very hairy chests might need enough hair shaved off to allow the pad to stick. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026 Bond Almand has been riding in the sun for so long that the hair on his arms is turning gray. — Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hair

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hǣr; akin to Old High German hār hair

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of hair was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing hair

Rhymes for hair

See All Rhymes for hair

Browse Nearby Words

Haiphong
hair
hair's breadth
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hair. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hair

noun
ˈha(ə)r How to pronounce hair (audio)
ˈhe(ə)r
1
a
: a slender threadlike growth from the skin of an animal
especially : one that usually contains coloring and forms part of the characteristic coat of a mammal
b
: a covering or growth of hairs of an animal or a body part
2
: a tiny distance or amount
won by a hair
3
: a threadlike structure that resembles hair
leaf hairs
haired
ˈha(ə)rd, 
ˈhe(ə)rd
adjective
hairless
ˈha(ə)r-ləs, 
ˈhe(ə)r-
adjective
hairlike
-ˌlīk How to pronounce hair (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

hair

noun
ˈha(ə)r, ˈhe(ə)r How to pronounce hair (audio)
often attributive
1
: a slender threadlike outgrowth of the epidermis of an animal
especially : one of the usually pigmented filaments that form the characteristic coat of a mammal
2
: the hairy covering of an animal or a body part
especially : the coating of hairs on a human head
hairlike
-ˌlīk How to pronounce hair (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on hair

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hair

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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