split end

noun

1

: an offensive football end who lines up usually several yards to the side of the formation

2

: a hair tip that has become frayed (as from dryness)

—usually used in plural

Examples of split end in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The theory goes that your hair then gets used to all that heat and, in turn, holds straight styles for longer periods of time without reverting to curly or frizzing up or showing the typical signs of damage, like dryness, split ends, and uneven texture. —Kayla Greaves, Allure, 18 Sep. 2024

For instance, split ends can travel up the hair fiber and damage the root. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 8 Sep. 2024

In addition to promoting longer strands, the oil also helps support overall hair and scalp health, and can even reduce breakage and split ends. —Brittany Leitner, StyleCaster, 6 Sep. 2024

This creamy, five-minute treatment knows how to repair bonds, hydrate, smooth, strengthen, detangle, and—wait, we're not done—help fuse split ends so hair looks and feels super healthy. —Allure, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined at sense 1