bouffant
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
(of a hair style) having extra height and width through back-combing; puffed out
-
(of sleeves, skirts, etc) puffed out
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bouffant
First recorded in 1875–80; from French: literally, “swelling” ( bouff(er) “to swell” + -ant adjective suffix; see -ant)
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.
Cruise ship passengers were pictured wearing blue gowns, bouffant caps, and medical face masks as they disembarked on Sunday at the port of Grandilla de Abona in Tenerife.
From BBC ● May 11, 2026
Roan’s fiery hair is piled in a foot-high bouffant above a rhinestone tiara, her face layered in kabuki-like powder.
From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2026
This year, the Dominican rapper supported her friend by walking the runway in a retro bouffant and black funeral dress.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2025
In one such instance, the official “Barbie” movie account responded to a fan-made image depicting Barbie with an atom bomb bouffant with the comment, “This Ken is a stylist.”
From New York Times ● Aug. 1, 2023
Her head tilted from side to side, her mile-high bouffant swinging along.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
