pigtail

noun

pig·​tail ˈpig-ˌtāl How to pronounce pigtail (audio)
plural pigtails
1
: tobacco in small twisted strands or rolls
2
: a lock of hair that has been gathered and banded or braided together at the back or side of the head
The hostess wore a peasant blouse and skirt and had her hair done up in a single thick pigtailJohn Updike
often used in the plural for a hairstyle in which two such locks or braids of hair are worn on either side of the head
a little girl in pigtails
… there's another hairstyle you should definitely try this year: Pigtails … I mean twin high ponytails that sprout from the top or sides of your head and kind of look like animal ears …Erica Smith

Examples of pigtail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In another shot, Rock wears his hair in bubble pigtail ponytails paired with a bright aqua eye shadow and pink lip combo. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 1 May 2025 By all accounts, Asha was an introspective and talented child who wore pigtails and loved basketball and spending time with her older brother, O’Bryant. Dianne Gallagher, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025 In her last pic, Olivia Rodrigo holds the same picnic basket while cheesing for the camera in a plunging red one-piece bathing suit and a grey baseball cap, keeping her pigtail braids in tact underneath. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 22 Feb. 2025 The teen opted for pigtails — quite the change from the pink buzz cut just weeks ago. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pigtail

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pigtail was in 1681

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Cite this Entry

“Pigtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pigtail. Accessed 16 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

pigtail

noun
pig·​tail -ˌtāl How to pronounce pigtail (audio)
: a tight braid of hair
pigtailed
-ˌtāld
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on pigtail

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