Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

bouffant

American  
[boo-fahnt, boo-fahnt, boo-fahn] / buˈfɑnt, ˈbu fɑnt, buˈfɑ̃ /

adjective

  1. puffed out; full.

    a bouffant skirt.

noun

  1. a woman's hairstyle in which the hair is teased to give an overall puffed-out appearance and often combed to frame the face.

bouffant British  
/ ˈbuːfɒŋ /

adjective

  1. (of a hair style) having extra height and width through back-combing; puffed out

  2. (of sleeves, skirts, etc) puffed out

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a bouffant hair style

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

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

Drollinger, who was appointed in May 2023, dons a big blond bouffant wig, expressive eyes and pouty lips.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2024

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

His bushy moustache and black bouffant hair with a trademark white streak at the front made him one of the most recognisable - and impersonated - stars of the era on ITV.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2023

In a photo I have of the day our new president came to visit the monument, I’m standing in front of the house, all made up, my hair in a bouffant style.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.