dreadlocks

American

[dred-loks] / ˈdrɛdˌlɒks /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

a hairstyle, especially among Rastafarians, in which the hair is worn in long, ropelike locks.

dreadlocks British

/ ˈdrɛdˌlɒks /

plural noun

hair worn in the Rastafarian style of long matted or tightly curled strands

"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

Etymology

Origin of dreadlocks

First recorded in 1955–60; dread + lock ² + -s ³

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.

Rastafarians let their hair grow, typically in dreadlocks, as part of their beliefs in the religion which originated in Jamaica and was popularized by the late reggae singer Bob Marley.

From Barron's • Nov. 10, 2025

After two decades, his dreadlocks went nearly to his knees.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

This season, as one of Arisu’s clients, Kuina is practically glowing with joy and contentment in a chunky sweater and jeans, but still with her signature dreadlocks.

From Salon • Sep. 26, 2025

He did the same in July, right before showing up at Ortega’s house, claiming he saw the man with dreadlocks break in.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025

He paced eagerly across the hill, snakes dropping from his green dreadlocks, his dragon legs stomping down small trees.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

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