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• wig
  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.
  Wig.

  abbreviation

  Wigtownshire

wig

American  

[wig] / wɪg /

noun

wigs plural

1. 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.

2. a similar head covering, worn in one's official capacity, as part of a costume, disguise, etc.

3. a toupee or hairpiece.

4. British Informal. a wigging.

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verb (used with object)

wigged, wigging

1. to furnish with a wig.

2. British Informal. to reprimand or reprove severely; scold.

verb phrase

1. wig out

   1. to be intoxicated with narcotic drugs.

   2. to make or become wildly excited or enthusiastic.

      She wigs out over every rock star that comes along.

idioms

1. flip one's wig, lid.

wig ¹ British  

/ wɪɡ /

noun

1. an artificial head of hair, either human or synthetic, worn to disguise baldness, as part of a theatrical or ceremonial dress, as a disguise, or for adornment

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verb

1. obsolete to furnish with a wig

2. slang to berate severely

Wig. ² British  

abbreviation

1. Wigtownshire

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wig More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing wig

• flip one's lid (wig)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• wigged
  adjective
• wigless
  adjective
• wiglike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• wigs
  plural

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

There was Molly Hollis, a middle-aged, Midwestern former schoolteacher whose creation required body padding and a wig; a flamboyant redhead; a nearly invisible elderly woman; and, most uncannily, Reichl’s own mother.

From Salon • Jul. 5, 2026

So when he heard on social media that Germans were congregating in Times Square, Altmeks readily pulled on a jersey of his hero Rudi Voller -- plus a wig mimicking the famed striker's blond curls.

From Barron's • Jun. 27, 2026

He and his team used ruses to try to talk to the franchisee or serve legal papers, including appearing in a fake UPS cap, posing as a Mormon and wearing a wig.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

The words simply read, "that's a bad wig".

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Her thick, gray hair was a wig; I could tell that even from where I was, across the yard from the coop.

From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce

Related Words

• toupee