What does chignon mean?
A chignon is a hairstyle in which the hair is gathered into a knot or coil at the back of the head or the nape of the neck. The term comes from French and entered English in the eighteenth century, when such styles were fashionable among well-to-do women. Today the word is used mainly in fashion journalism, bridal styling, and descriptions of formal attire, where it signals elegance and polish: one might speak of a sleek low chignon for a black-tie event or a deliberately messy chignon for a more relaxed look. Unlike the everyday word bun, chignon suggests deliberate artistry rather than casual convenience, so writers reach for it when they want to convey sophistication. Though firmly established in English, it retains its French flavor in pronunciation, and it remains one of the most evocative terms in the vocabulary of hairstyling. Its ultimate root is the Latin catena, meaning chain.
nounA knot or coil of hair arranged at the back of the head or on the nape of the neck; a low bun worn as an elegant hairstyle.
- A knot or coil of hair arranged at the back of the head or the nape of the neck, worn especially as an elegant style.
"She swept her hair into a loose chignon for the wedding."
"For the gala she pinned her hair into a sleek chignon at the nape of her neck."
"The ballet dancers all wore their hair in neat chignons."
The plural follows the regular English pattern of adding -s.
"All the bridesmaids wore matching chignons."
The elegant 'chignon' hairstyle takes its name from a French word for the nape of the neck — which itself descends from the Latin word for 'chain.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chignon
Chignon was borrowed directly from French, where it denotes both the nape of the neck and the hairstyle worn there, entering English usage around the eighteenth century. The French word traces back through Old French chaignon ('nape') to the Latin catena, meaning 'chain,' presumably because the coiled arrangement suggested links of a chain. English 'chain' itself derives from the same Latin root, making the two words distant relatives.
How chignon is actually used
The word carries a refined, somewhat formal connotation and appears chiefly in fashion writing and descriptions of formal dress. It is pronounced with a French-style nasal vowel by many speakers, though an anglicized final syllable is common in American English.
Easily confused with chignon
A canyon is a deep gorge or ravine carved by a river, whereas a chignon is a coil of hair worn at the nape of the neck.