hair follicle

noun

: the tubular epithelial sheath that surrounds the lower part of the hair shaft and encloses at the bottom a vascular papilla supplying the growing basal part of the hair with nourishment see hair illustration

Examples of hair follicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The nutrients support hair follicles' high metabolic rate and cell division.26 The reverse is also true. —Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025

During anagen, the hair follicle will produce a new shaft–the part of the follicle that pokes above the skin. —Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 20 Mar. 2025

At-home laser hair removal doesn’t generally work on light hair—blonde, gray, white, and some shades of red—because the laser works by seeking out pigment (the hair follicle) and then damaging it. —Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2025

If environmental debris, product build-up, sebum, dead skin, etc. isn't properly cleansed from the scalp regularly, the buildup will cause the hair follicle to shrink, causing thinning or hair loss. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hair follicle

• diabolical
• symbolical

Kids Definition

hair follicle

noun

: the tube-shaped sheath surrounding the lower part of a hair shaft

Medical Definition

hair follicle

noun

: the tubular epithelial sheath that surrounds the lower part of the hair shaft and encloses at the bottom a vascular papilla supplying the growing basal part of the hair with nourishment