English Reference
adjective

haired

adj.
US /ˈhɛɹd/ UK /hˈeəd/ haired

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    used with words like 'dark', 'long', or 'fair' to describe someone's hair.

    used in combination with a preceding modifier to describe the characteristics of a person's or animal's hair.

    Simple

    The fair-haired boy sat in the front row of the classroom.

    In context

    The silver-haired gentleman spoke with a quiet authority that commanded the attention of everyone in the boardroom.

    Usage

    This word is almost always used as part of a compound adjective, such as 'dark-haired' or 'curly-haired'.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Literary

    having hair on the head; not bald.

    possessing a natural growth of hair; used as a contrast to being bald or hairless.

    Simple

    He was a healthy, haired man even in his late eighties.

    In context

    The poet described the transition from the thick-haired youth of his memory to the stark baldness of his present reality.

    hirsute

From Middle English hered, equivalent to hair + -ed. Compare Dutch behaard (“haired”), German behaart (“haired”).

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

This entry
Origin Middle English hered
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated