What does pompadour mean?
A pompadour is a hairstyle in which the hair is brushed upward and back from the forehead, traditionally creating a high, rounded roll or quiff. It is especially associated with sharply dressed American men of the 1950s and has appeared in later fashion revivals and rockabilly culture. The style can also be described by its use of height, volume, and a controlled finish rather than loose hair falling across the forehead. Although modern hairstyles may use products, heat, or a blow dryer to create a similar shape, the traditional pompadour was generally formed with wet hair, careful brushing, and pomade. As a verb, pompadour is relatively uncommon and means to arrange or style the hair in this manner. The word derives from the surname of Madame de Pompadour, the influential eighteenth-century French court figure with whom the style became associated.
A hairstyle in which the hair is swept up and back from the forehead, often forming a prominent roll or quiff.
"He arrived at the restaurant wearing a perfectly sculpted pompadour."
Chiefly North American; historically associated with men's styling and especially with 1950s fashion.
To arrange the hair in a pompadour style.
"He pompadours his hair with pomade before each performance."
Relatively uncommon and usually transitive, with the hair or hairstyle as its object.
The plural is used for individual hairstyles or instances of the style.
"The performers wore elaborate pompadours for the musical."
The towering hairstyle is named after Madame de Pompadour, the celebrated patron of the arts and official mistress of King Louis XV of France.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pompadour come from?
The English word comes through French from the surname Pompadour, borne by Madame de Pompadour, whose title came from the French commune of Pompadour. The hairstyle was named in her honour and became associated with the fashionable court culture of Louis XV. Its use in English subsequently became established for a swept-up hairstyle worn especially by men.
Related word forms
How pompadour is actually used
The noun is chiefly North American and is strongly associated with men's hairstyles, particularly 1950s styling, though it is also used in fashion and revival contexts. The verb is comparatively uncommon and usually takes the hair as its object.
Easily confused with pompadour
A quiff is a forward or upward sweep of hair over the forehead, while a pompadour generally has a fuller, more structured roll and was historically associated with men's styling.