balding

American  

[bawl-ding] / ˈbɔl dɪŋ /

adjective

1. losing hair on the scalp; becoming bald.

   a middle-aged, balding man.

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noun

1. the process of becoming bald.

   There are numerous causes for balding, such as genetics and poor nutrition.

balding British  

/ ˈbɔːldɪŋ /

adjective

1. somewhat bald or becoming bald

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Etymology

Origin of balding

First recorded in 1935–40; bald ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) balding for def. 1, or -ing ¹ ( def. ) balding for def. 2

Explanation

If your dad is losing his hair, you can describe him as balding — although it may hurt his feelings if he's sensitive about his looks. Someone who's balding is well on his way to being bald. He may have a shiny bald patch on the back of his head or just extremely thin wisps of hair all over — either way, he's balding. Both balding and bald probably originated from the Celtic root word bal, which means "white patch or blaze," especially one that's found on a horse or another animal's head.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

balding

“For a lot of guys, balding is the first thing they come up against where they really don’t have any control.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026

His balding head’s scraggly hair—in contrast to the wigs worn by just about every Frenchman at the time, no matter the social class—is both ennobling and a bit enfeebling, like an aging but distinguished mane.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

For men, it’s mostly caused by the body’s hereditary response to the hormone dihydrotestosterone and can lead to balding.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 25, 2026

I've come to terms with my baldness now and I prefer to be bald than balding.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2025

In the photo, Rindlisbacher could see Keith slumped forward, a hint of male pattern balding on top of his head.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel