hairline

American  

[hair-lahyn] / ˈhɛərˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a very slender line.

2. the lower edge of the hair, especially along the upper forehead.

   a hairline that slowly receded.

3. worsted fabric woven with very fine lines or stripes.

4. Printing.

   1. a very thin line on the face of a type.

   2. a style of type consisting entirely of such lines.

   3. a thin rule for printing fine lines.

   4. undesirable vertical lines between letters, caused by worn matrices.

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adjective

1. narrow or fine as a hair.

   a hairline fracture.

hairline British  

/ ˈhɛəˌlaɪn /

noun

1. the natural margin formed by hair on the head

2. 1. a very narrow line

   2. ( as modifier )

      a hairline crack

3. printing

   1. a thin stroke in a typeface

   2. any typeface consisting of such strokes

   3. thin lines beside a character, produced by worn or poorly cast type

4. a rope or line of hair

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Etymology

Origin of hairline

First recorded in 1725–35; hair + line ¹

Example Sentences

My hair woes started in high school, when I would scrape my curls into a bun and lament how thin my hairline looked.

From Slate • May 23, 2026

Joseph’s look contrasts with the somewhat scruffy beard and receding hairline of the donor kneeling at the right.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

Agar could have been stumped on six off Swann, but got the benefit of a hairline decision.

From BBC • Nov. 18, 2025

“Laser Hair” for the hairline and “everywhere else,” which we assume means laser hair removal.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2025

It feels like I’ve just sprouted a Ping-Pong ball on my hairline.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King

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