perm

1 of 2

noun

perm

2 of 2

verb

permed; perming; perms

transitive verb

: to give (hair) a permanent wave

Examples of perm in a Sentence

Noun She got a perm last week. Verb She got her hair permed at the salon.
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.
Noun
Her stylist at Looks Salon in Columbia, Maryland, will give her a feathery Farrah Fawcett look or a perm, and her bangs always come out fluffed to perfection. Michelle Lee, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024 Visually, it is defined by sequined dresses and star Blake Lively’s gigantic crimson perm. Coleman Spilde, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2024
Verb
What does a hair gloss do, exactly? Most hair transformations (like dyeing, bleaching, relaxing, or perming) work by opening the outer layer of your hair (a.k.a. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 2 Dec. 2024 He’s got locs now, but before then, he could’ve been seen with his hair permed, straightened, platted, in an Afro, accessorized, and at times topped off with a funky hat or silk headscarf. Julian Randall, Essence, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for perm 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1927, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perm was in 1927

Dictionary Entries Near perm

Cite this Entry

“Perm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perm. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

perm

1 of 2 noun

perm

2 of 2 verb
: to give (hair) a permanent

More from Merriam-Webster on perm

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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