ringlet

American  

[ring-lit] / ˈrɪŋ lɪt /

noun

1. a curled lock of hair.

2. a small ring or circle.

3. Astronomy. one of the thin or narrow rings that compose the major rings of Saturn.

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ringlet British  

/ ˈrɪŋlɪt /

noun

1. a lock of hair hanging down in a spiral curl

2. any of numerous butterflies of the genus Erebia , most of which occur in S Europe and have dark brown wings marked with small black-and-white eyespots: family Satyridae

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Other Word Forms

• ringleted
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of ringlet

First recorded in 1545–55; ring ¹ + -let

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ringlet

Growing up she was the gorgeous outgoing risk-taker with ringlet hair.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Jérôme Kaplan’s designs bring a delightful, youthful air to the stage, particularly his graceful, rounded tutus for the swans that land just above the knee, and their white feathered caps and low, ringlet ponytails.

From New York Times ● Feb. 13, 2022

Glimpses of parents and children, a head of tense ringlet curls.

From Slate ● Nov. 26, 2018

A dangling ringlet of orange peel or a yellow floof of cotton candy finishes the towering inferno.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 4, 2016

I wish I could take a picture of her in this huge chair with her matching outfit, ringlet curls, and sloped nose.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy