plural pigtails
1
: tobacco in small twisted strands or rolls
2
: a lock of hair that has been gathered and banded or braided together at the back or side of the head
The hostess wore a peasant blouse and skirt and had her hair done up in a single thick pigtail …—
John Updike
—often used in the plural for a hairstyle in which two such locks or braids of hair are worn on either side of the headJohn Updikea little girl in pigtails
… there's another hairstyle you should definitely try this year: Pigtails … I mean twin high ponytails that sprout from the top or sides of your head and kind of look like animal ears …—Erica Smith
Erica SmithExamples of pigtail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Raggedy Ann-like pigtails streaming from anime fans.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
In the cropped picture, Waterhouse cradled her daughter, who wore pigtails tied with tiny white bows.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 9 Mar. 2026
Gabi has big brown eyes, pigtails, and a genetic condition that makes her bones brittle.
—Kate Wells, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026
Mira- Bright pink hair styled in high pigtails, brown eyes with custom eyeshadow and pierced ears, wearing a cropped black graphic t-shirt, black fingerless gloves, yellow skirt and black boots.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pigtail
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Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
In the cropped picture, Waterhouse cradled her daughter, who wore pigtails tied with tiny white bows.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 9 Mar. 2026
Gabi has big brown eyes, pigtails, and a genetic condition that makes her bones brittle.
—Kate Wells, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026
Mira- Bright pink hair styled in high pigtails, brown eyes with custom eyeshadow and pierced ears, wearing a cropped black graphic t-shirt, black fingerless gloves, yellow skirt and black boots.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pigtail
Cite this Entry
“Pigtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pigtail. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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