ponytail
Americannoun
-
ponytails
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of ponytail
Explanation
A ponytail is a hairstyle. To make a ponytail, gather your hair at the back or side of your head and secure it with a band so that it hangs down. The ponytail was named for its resemblance to the long tail of a horse or pony. While a classic ponytail might be defined as long hair banded at the back of the head, there are many variations. There are short, stubby ponytails; side ponytails; high and low ponytails; and double ponytails, sometimes called "pigtails." This hairstyle, once mainly worn by children, became very popular in the 1950s thanks to the introduction of the Barbie doll and her iconic ponytail.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The eye-catching speed suit featured an open back and a hood with a ponytail opening, while colour-changing 3D-printed details reduced drag in key areas.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
"Some men when they have a midlife crisis buy a Lamborghini or grow a ponytail, but me - I want my very own castle," he said at the time.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
With her long hair tied back in a ponytail, a white top, beige jacket and wide-legged jeans, she stands out in an industry dominated by men in suits.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
French-English artist Lydia Corbett sat for Pablo Picasso in 1954 and was the subject of about 60 works, turning her hair style—a high ponytail and bangs—into a sensation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Katherine shook her head, her ponytail flipping back and forth.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
I have like four ponytails in my head and it’s tight and I’m going to regret it when I get older but for an hour it needs to stick.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Young adults in hiking gear sipped beers beneath chandeliers shaped like wagon wheels as old timers with gray ponytails and cowboy hats chatted with a tattooed bartender.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2025
"We know that fashion tends to repeat itself - and just as ponytails and flared trousers have made a comeback, so has this vintage item," says L'Oréal's Mr Rosso.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2022
I felt we were bringing something to him through our youth, the time of Sonny and Cher, Twiggy, the swinging ponytails!
From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2022
They don’t look happy, although maybe that’s because their matching high ponytails are pulled too tight.
From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina
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