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• perm
  perm

  noun

  permanent.
• Perm
  Perm

  noun

  a city in the E Russian Federation in Europe, on the Kama River.

perm

¹ American  

[purm] / pɜrm /

noun

1. permanent.

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verb (used with object)

perms, present (3rd person singular) permed, past participle, past perming present participle

1. to give (the hair) a permanent.

verb (used without object)

perms, present (3rd person singular) permed, past participle, past perming present participle

1. to apply a permanent to the hair.

Perm ² American  

[purm, pairm, pyerm] / pɜrm, pɛərm, pyɛrm /

noun

1. a city in the E Russian Federation in Europe, on the Kama River.

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perm ¹ British  

/ pɜːm /

noun

1. Also called (esp formerly): permanent wave.  a hairstyle produced by treatment with heat, chemicals, etc which gives long-lasting waves, curls, or other shaping

2. the act of giving or receiving such a hairstyle

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verb

1. (tr) to give a perm to (hair)

Perm ² British  

/ pjermj /

noun

1. Former name (1940–62): Molotov.  a port in W Russia, on the Kama River: oil refinery; university (1916). Pop: 984 000 (2005 est)

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perm ³ British  

/ pɜːm /

noun

1. short for permutation

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Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have permed
  perfect
• has permed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is perming
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been perming
  perfect progressive
• are perming
  progressive
• perming
  participle
• am perming
  progressive 1st person singular
• perms
  singular 3rd person
• has been perming
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had permed
  perfect
• had been perming
  perfect progressive
• was perming
  progressive singular
• permed
  simple
• were perming
  progressive plural
• permed
  participle

Future

• will perm
  simple
• will have permed
  perfect
• will have been perming
  perfect progressive
• will be perming
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of perm

First recorded in 1925–30; by shortening

Explanation

A perm is a chemical treatment that curls your hair. Get a perm today and you'll still have curly hair next month! The word perm is shorthand for permanent wave. The earliest versions of perms were used on wigs, since the chemicals were too harsh for the human scalp. As the technique progressed, it briefly included electric heat and spools for winding the hair. Today's perms use chemicals and curlers — and nearly identical chemicals are used to straighten or relax curly hair. While perms were extremely popular in the 1980s, you don't see many people with perms today.

Example Sentences

Kyiv said it had hit two refineries in Russia's Yaroslavl and Perm regions.

From Barron's • May 9, 2026

Ukraine has also stepped up attacks on the Russian energy hub of Perm, more than 900 miles deep in central Russia.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Dramatic images shared on social media showed huge columns of black smoke and flames rising into the air, and a chemical emergency alert was issued for some parts of Perm.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Stanislav Pozdnyakov, head of the Russian Olympic Committee, said in Perm that the key thing now was to prepare athletes for the 2028 Games.

From Reuters • Oct. 19, 2023

Mr. Perham, or as everyone called him, Big Perm, because of his last name and because he had bone-straight permed hair, is who pulled me off Brandon.

From "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds