goatee

American  

[goh-tee] / goʊˈti /

noun

• goatees
  plural

1. a man's beard trimmed to a tuft or point on the chin.

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goatee British  

/ ɡəʊˈtiː /

noun

1. a pointed tuftlike beard on the chin

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• goateed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• goatees
  plural

Etymology

Origin of goatee

1835–45, goat (from its resemblance to a goat's tufted chin) + -ee, probably as spelling variant of -y ², -ie, though stressed as if formed with -ee

Explanation

A goatee is a narrow beard. If your uncle shaves his cheeks and the sides of his chin, leaving just a strip of hair under his mouth, you can compliment him on his goatee. Some facial hair purists say that it's only a goatee if there's no mustache involved — the combination of a narrow beard and mustache can also be called a "Van Dyke." Others are fine with describing any beard that doesn't extend fully across the face from ear to ear as a goatee. This term comes from the tufted beards that many goats have, and it was originally known as a goaty.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

goatee goatees

Last time I met with an old friend I noted the disappearance of his goatee and mustache.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Kym told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I had my wedding dress on, and my bald cap, and my goatee, I must have looked a right picture!"

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

College for most of us means freedom: freedom from parents, freedom to protest, to experiment, and, for me, to briefly wear a goatee.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

Born into a poor family in the western province of Artemisa on April 28, 1932, Valdes was instantly recognizable by his white goatee and green military fatigues.

From Barron's ● Jun. 21, 2026

He has a faint goatee trying hard to express itself, but it’s six months short of becoming a reality.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

Various reports say about one-third of American men are fully bearded, with the numbers inching toward half if you count goatees and heavy stubble.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

I have had various beards and goatees over most of the 50 years of our marriage.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 24, 2023

They couldn’t get there when Eric Gagne won one Cy Young Award and outfitted Dodger Stadium in googles and goatees.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2017

To me, Incubus will always be posters on my bedroom wall, stealing snogs with guys who had goatees like wire scourers and singing Drive in school assembly.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 25, 2017

Flannels, goatees, and combat boots were in; bodysuits, Hypercolor, and perms were on their way out.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi