coiffure
kwah-FYOOR
/kwɑːˈfjʊər/
An elaborate or carefully arranged hairstyle.
Carries an air of elegance, high fashion, or formal hair artistry beyond a simple haircut.
The story behind the word. Borrowed from French 'coiffure', derived from 'coiffer' (to put on a cap or arrange hair), which originates from Late Latin 'coffa' (head covering). It gained prominence in 18th-century French court fashion.
Word relationships
- hairstyle: Everyday general term for how hair is cut or styled.
- updo: Specific style where hair is pulled up off the neck.
Commonly confused with
- coiffure vs coiffeur: Coiffure is the hairstyle itself; coiffeur is the hairdresser who creates it.
Word family
- coiffeur (noun): A male hairdresser.
- coiffeuse (noun): A female hairdresser.
Collocations
- elaborate coiffure
- immaculate coiffure
- sculpted coiffure
- elegant coiffure
Example sentences
- "The actress arrived at the gala with an intricate high-updo coiffure decorated with pearls." Fashion commentary
- "Her coiffure was held in place by tortoiseshell pins that shimmered under the chandelier." Classic novel excerpt
Memory hook
COIFFURE is fancy HAIR fashion created with FLAIR. Elaborate, elegant hairstyle.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a messy, unstyled, or casual haircut.
Fun facts
- In 18th-century France, noblewomen's coiffures were sometimes built two feet high using lard, flour, and wire frames.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.