bald

American  

[bawld] / bɔld /

adjective

1. having little or no hair on the scalp.

   a bald head;

   a bald person.

2. destitute of some natural growth or covering.

   a bald mountain.

3. lacking detail; bare; plain; unadorned.

   a bald prose style.

4. open; undisguised.

   a bald lie.

   Synonyms:

   flat-out, downright, out-and-out, utter, patent, flagrant, barefaced, bare

5. Zoology. having white on the head.

   the bald eagle.

6. Automotive. (of a tire) having the tread completely worn away.

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verb (used without object)

1. to become bald.

noun

1. (often initial capital letter) a treeless mountaintop or area near the top: often used as part of a proper name.

bald British  

/ bɔːld /

adjective

1. having no hair or fur, esp (of a man) having no hair on all or most of the scalp

2. lacking natural growth or covering

3. plain or blunt

   a bald statement

4. bare or simple; unadorned

5. Also: baldfaced.  (of certain birds and other animals) having white markings on the head and face

6. (of a tyre) having a worn tread

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Usage

What is a basic definition of bald? Bald describes a person as having no or little hair on their head. Bald also means to lose one’s hair and describes something as being out in the open or not hidden. Bald has several other senses as an adjective and one as a noun.A bald person lacks hair on their head. There are multiple reasons why a person might be bald. For many bald men, becoming bald is the result of a genetic condition known as male pattern baldness, which causes their hair to thin and fall out as they age. A person may be bald because they shave their head or because of chemotherapy, which often causes hair loss all over the body. While animals who don’t have fur or hair could be called bald, hairless is more commonly used.

• Real-life examples: Some examples of famous bald men include basketball player Michael Jordan, singer Sinead O’Connor, and the 14th Dalai Lama.
• Used in a sentence: Chang had hair in his 30s but was completely bald by the time he turned 40.

In this same sense, bald is used as a verb to mean to become bald. The phrase “go bald” is also commonly used.

• Used in a sentence: Phillip began to bald early in life so he decided to start shaving his head.

Bald is also used to describe something that is out in the open and acknowledged. A bald insult, for example, is one that you don’t try to hide. You say it boldly and unapologetically.

• Used in a sentence: Fanny said a bald lie when asked why she didn’t go to work.

Other Word Forms

• baldish adjective
• baldly adverb
• baldness noun
• half-bald adjective
• semibald adjective
• semibaldly adverb
• semibaldness noun

Etymology

Origin of bald

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English ball(e)d, equivalent to ball “white spot” (compare Welsh bal, Greek phaliós “having a white spot”) + -ed -ed ³

Example Sentences

But we also saved species that were headed for oblivion, including the wild turkey, the wood duck, the bald eagle and—that bane of airports and golf courses everywhere—the Canada goose.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

I was sitting in the chair in mid-shave when a bald gentleman barged into the shop searching not for a cut, but a promise.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

It's hard to recognize Ethan Hawke in "Blue Moon": he's short, bald, slightly greasy-looking and uncomfortable in his own skin.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Despite suffering from "numerous" bald patches, a torn muzzle, and repairs to both pads on his paws and feet, the Edwardian bear attracted a lot of interest ahead of the sale.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

A doctor, an older man half my dad’s size with a bald head and a short, trimmed beard walked in like he was already late for a tennis class.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• bare
• hairless
• naked