ENGLISH
REFERENCE

blond

adj. · n. · v.
US //ˈbɫɑnd// UK //blˈɒnd// blond
  1. 1 hair colour (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    having pale yellow or golden hair.

    describing hair of a pale golden or light yellowish hue.

    Example

    The little boy has bright blond hair that turns almost white in the summer.

    Example

    The actor was required to maintain a natural blond look for the duration of the filming to match the historical descriptions of the character.
    • fair haired
    • golden haired
    Pitfall
    She is a blond woman.
    She is a blonde woman.

    In traditional usage, 'blond' describes men and 'blonde' describes women, though 'blond' is becoming a gender-neutral standard in American English.

  2. 2 a person (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a person who has pale yellow or golden hair.

    an individual possessing hair of a light yellowish or golden colour.

    Example

    There were two blonds and one brunette in the photograph.

    Example

    The casting director specifically looked for natural blonds to play the siblings in the upcoming family drama.
  3. 3 type of beer (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a type of beer that is light gold in colour.

    a pale ale or lager characterized by its light golden hue and typically mild flavour profile.

    Example

    I would like a cold blond, please.

    Example

    The brewery's flagship blond is known for its crisp finish and subtle citrus notes, making it a popular choice during the summer months.
    • pale ale
  4. 4 to dye hair (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    to dye someone's hair a light yellow or golden colour.

    to bleach or colour hair to achieve a pale golden or yellowish shade.

    Example

    She decided to blond her hair for the summer holidays.

    Example

    The stylist used a gentle lifting agent to blond the client's naturally dark tresses without causing significant structural damage to the hair follicles.

    Usage

    The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
    • darken
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French blond m, from Old French blond, blont, blund, (> Medieval Latin blondus), from Frankish blund (“a mixed color between golden and light-brown”), from Proto-Germanic blundaz (“mixed, blinding”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlendʰ- (“to become turbid, see badly, go blind”). Compare Old English blondenfeax (“grey-haired”), Old English blandan (“to mix”). More at blend. Alternative etymology connects Frankish blund to Proto-Germanic blundaz (“blond”), from Proto-Indo-European bʰl̥ndʰ-, bʰlendʰ- (“blond, red-haired”). If so, then it would be cognate with Sanskrit ब्रध्न (bradhná, “ruddy, pale red, yellowish”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026