hairline

noun

hair·​line ˈher-ˈlīn 

1

: a very slender line: such as

a

: a tiny line or crack on a surface

a hairline bone fracture

b

: a fine line connecting thicker strokes in a printed letter

2

: hairbreadth

3

a

: a textile design consisting of lengthwise or crosswise lines usually one thread wide

b

: a fabric with such a design

4

a

: the outline of scalp hair especially on the forehead

b

: the way the hair frames the face

hairline adjective

Synonyms

• ace
• hair
• hairbreadth
• hairsbreadth
• hop, skip, and jump
• inch
• neck
• shouting distance
• step
• stone's throw

Examples of hairline in a Sentence

The plate had a hairline running across it.

He has a receding hairline.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tagovailoa’s injury is not a bruise or strain or hairline fracture or chip in the bone. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025

Johnson was initially on a path to lose the first round when three Republicans voted on Friday to elevate other figures to the Speakership post — two more detractors than Johnson could afford given the Republicans’ hairline majority. —Mike Lillis, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2025

Archaeologists have yet to X-ray the ancient columns for possible hairline fractures from the force of months of explosions around them, Ghazal says. —Lauren Frayer, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024

How to Use It: To start, swipe the roller from the middle of the face outwards across the cheeks; then, roll it over the forehead moving from the eyebrows up the hairline. —Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hairline

noun

hair·​line ˈha(ə)r-ˌlīn 

ˈhe(ə)r-

1

a

: a very slender line

b

: a very thin crack on a surface

a hairline bone fracture

2

: the outline of the hair on the head and especially on the forehead

hairline adjective

Medical Definition

hairline

noun

hair·​line -ˈlīn 

: the outline of scalp hair especially on the forehead

hairline adjective