What does ponytail mean?
A ponytail is a hairstyle made by gathering the hair at the back of the head, fastening it with a band or similar tie, and leaving it hanging down. The word can refer either to the hairstyle as a whole or to the resulting bundle of hair. Ponytails are common in everyday life and may be worn high, low, loose, or tightly secured, making them useful for describing appearance, practical choices, and activities such as exercise or performance. In British English, the term is also related to the older word “queue,” though “ponytail” is the clearer and more widely understood expression. The compound literally describes the resemblance between a tied bundle of hair and a pony's tail.
nounA hairstyle in which the hair is gathered, usually at the back of the head, fastened, and allowed to hang like a pony's tail. The word can also refer to the tied bundle of hair itself.
- A hairstyle in which the hair is gathered and fastened at the back of the head, usually with a band or tie.
- The tied bundle of hair itself.
"She tied her hair into a ponytail before leaving the house."
"Her long ponytail swung as she walked down the street."
"The dancer secured her hair in a high ponytail before going onstage."
The plural is used for multiple hairstyles or multiple tied bundles of hair.
"Several dancers wore long ponytails."
A ponytail turns an everyday hairstyle into a tiny visual reminder of one of history's most recognizable animals: the pony.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ponytail come from?
“Ponytail” is a compound formed in English from “pony” and “tail.” The word “pony” entered English through French from a Latin term for a small horse, while “tail” descends from Old English. The compound refers to the way a tied hairstyle hangs like a pony's tail.
How ponytail is actually used
The term is common in everyday English in both British and American usage. It is sometimes used figuratively for a narrow, tied bundle or tail-like arrangement of hair, but the hairstyle is by far the dominant modern sense.
Easily confused with ponytail
A ponytail is generally a single tied bundle of hair, whereas a pigtail is often a braid and may refer to one of two braids worn at the sides.