hair

noun

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
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 adjective

Illustration of hair

Illustration of hair
  • 1 shaft
  • 2 sebaceous gland
  • 3 epidermis
  • 4 dermis
  • 5 hair follicle
  • 6 bulb
  • 7 papilla
Phrases
in one's hair
: persistently and annoyingly in one's presence
can't work with you in my hair all day
out of one's hair
: out of one's way : not in one's hair
keep the children out of his hair for a while

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.
Ahead, how to get static out of hair according to professional hairstylists. Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 11 Feb. 2025 Beyond its signature hair clips (think the Big Effing Clip and Sweetheart Clips), Emi Jay’s prestige brushes and haircare products will be available exclusively at Sephora. Karin Eldor, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2025 The actress wore her hair in brown and blond braids, wrapped into a top bun. Mikelle Street, WWD, 11 Feb. 2025 Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the latter with her hair tucked into her collar, at the 2017 Met Gala. Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 11 Feb. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near hair

Cite this Entry

“Hair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hair. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

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 adjective

Medical Definition

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 adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on hair

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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