wig
noun
an artificial covering of hair for all or most of the head, of either synthetic or natural hair, worn to be stylish or more attractive.
wig
American
[wig]
/ wɪg /
noun
-
wigs
plural
-
an artificial covering of hair for all or most of the head, of either synthetic or natural hair, worn to be stylish or more attractive.
-
a similar head covering, worn in one's official capacity, as part of a costume, disguise, etc.
-
a toupee or hairpiece.
-
British Informal. a wigging.
verb (used with object)
wigged,
wigging
-
to furnish with a wig.
-
British Informal. to reprimand or reprove severely; scold.
verb phrase
idioms
wig
1
British
/ wɪɡ /
noun
verb
-
obsolete to furnish with a wig
-
slang to berate severely
Wig.
2
British
abbreviation
wig
More Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of wig
First recorded in 1665–75; short for periwig
Explanation
A wig is a head covering made of hair. If your hair is short, red, and curly, you can try out an entirely different look by wearing a long, black wig. Wigs are made from donated human hair, synthetic hair, or even animal hair. Some look so realistic that no one would ever guess a person was wearing a wig. A costume wig, on the other hand, might simply give you purple clown hair. People wear wigs for many reasons, including hair loss caused by illness or cancer treatment, religious law, and personal style. Wig was originally short for periwig, from the French perruque, "head of hair."
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.
See Examples For:
One of the only times Gardner says he’s ever worried about his safety was early in the run when, without thinking, he adjusted his wig with the flame on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
"I may wear a wig if I'm dressing up, but usually I don't, and I get so many lovely compliments."
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
When the property was listed, images revealed an incredible glimpse inside the dwelling, which features a meditation room inside the primary suite, a climate-controlled wig room, a private gym, and a movie theater.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Tiara Jones contributed the essential wig and makeup design.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
In a black wig and a silver jacket she snagged the passport of Dorothea von Schnell of Germany, five foot three.
From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart
Stealing a Wig. n the palmy days of wigs the price of a full-wig of an English gentleman was from thirty to forty guineas.
From At the Sign of the Barber's Pole Studies In Hirsute History by William Andrews
“Our wigs were very helpful in what we call ‘hairography,’ where we can hide our face or swing our hair around,” says Wajih.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
"There is the risk of feeling unwell, but even when it comes to makeup and wearing wigs, we sweat, and it quickly becomes very difficult."
From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026
Every year, thousands of people around the world don red robes – and in some cases long black wigs – for The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
His balding head’s scraggly hair—in contrast to the wigs worn by just about every Frenchman at the time, no matter the social class—is both ennobling and a bit enfeebling, like an aging but distinguished mane.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
She saw dreary wigs, pots of rouge, empty flasks, and an unruly collection of impossible objects scattered everywhere.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
“I think it wigged me out subconsciously,” he recalled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
When you’re going from movie to movie, a lot of times, actors are wigged.
From New York Times ● Oct. 4, 2022
In any case, "Servant" wigged out enough of an audience to scare up a third season, which Apple TV+ announced prior to this week's second season premiere.
From Salon ● Jan. 14, 2021
Big dog wigs for big wigged dogs and dog bigwigs, little dog wigs for little wigged dogs and dog littlewigs!
From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2018
She thought I had, which is why she and Sam wigged out.
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
In Louis-Dreyfus, who starred opposite James Gandolfini in “Enough Said,” Holofcener has found the ideal collaborator, an actor gloriously adept at wigging out but also capable of conveying vulnerability with a persuasive honesty.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 25, 2023
Following MacNair's lawsuit, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists launched an investigation into wigging cases, and concluded that wigging is "not acceptable and that this should not happen again."
From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2021
Miller had two of his touchdowns after halftime, wigging through a hole on an off-tackle run and dashed down the sideline for a 75-yard TD.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 9, 2021
It was once commonplace for studios to use stuntmen in wigs instead of female doubles, a practice known as wigging.
From Reuters ● May 6, 2021
"But I say, Causton, you'll get a wigging!"
From The Story of Louie by Oliver [pseud.] Onions
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
