hairpin

1 of 2

noun

hair·pin ˈher-ˌpin

Synonyms of hairpin

: a pin to hold the hair in place

specifically : a long U-shaped pin

: something shaped like a hairpin

specifically : a sharp U-shaped turn in a road

hairpin

2 of 2

adjective

: having the shape of a hairpin

a hairpin turn

also : having hairpin turns

a steep hairpin road

Examples of hairpin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Sawyer posted a video of himself standing inside a hairpin and flipping the bird at drivers for apexing and crossing the double yellows, who returned the kindness. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 29 July 2026 Seeing the big Dane (very briefly) lead the GC group up the first hairpin at Alpe d’Huez was great too. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Adjective

Like many shy people, Seydoux seems to be most at home in her own thoughts — and to speak to her is to enjoy the hairpin turn, the unexpected approach. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 18 May 2026 This highway is one of the world’s most dangerous roads, with hairpin turns, narrow and steep descents and high risk for mudslides and rockslides. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hairpin

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1771, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of hairpin was in 1771

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

hairpiece

hairpin

hairpin lace

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hairpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hairpin. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hairpin

noun

hair·pin

-ˌpin

: a U-shaped pin to hold the hair in place

: something shaped like a hairpin

especially : an extremely sharp turn in a road

hairpin adjective

Medical Definition

hairpin

noun

hair·pin ˈha(ə)r-ˌpin, ˈhe(ə)r-

variants also hairpin loop

: a region in single-stranded RNA or DNA that is double-stranded due to pairing between purine and pyrimidine bases in adjacent sequences of the RNA or DNA that are complementary and inverted

hairpin

noun

adjective

Examples of hairpin in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

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