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

But neither of his grandfathers had much; his father has a receding hairline.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

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

From BBC • Nov. 18, 2025

You’re more than allowed to believe him abominable, and maybe do some witchcraft so his hairline starts receding at an unprecedented rate.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2025

Dodgers catcher Will Smith has a hairline fracture in his right hand and is doubtful to return before the end of the regular season, according to manager Dave Roberts.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 20, 2025

The skin at her temples had been pulled back and secured with strips of tape at her hairline.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

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