coiffurist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (rare/archaic)Formal, dated, or humorous. In modern contexts, often used self-consciously or ironically.
Quick answer
What does “coiffurist” mean?
A hairdresser, especially one who specializes in styling.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hairdresser, especially one who specializes in styling.
A professional who creates artistic or fashionable hairstyles, often suggesting a high level of skill and artistry. Can also refer to a maker or seller of wigs or hairpieces.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. 'Coiffeur/coiffeuse' (borrowed from French) is more likely to be encountered than 'coiffurist' in high-end contexts.
Connotations
In both regions, it can sound archaic, overly formal, or humorously pompous. It is not standard modern professional terminology.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora. It is a lexical curiosity rather than a common term.
Grammar
How to Use “coiffurist” in a Sentence
[coiffurist] + [verb: styled, created, designed] + [object: hair, a look][client] + [verb: consulted, visited] + [coiffurist]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coiffurist” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She was expertly coiffured for the gala.
American English
- His hair was coiffured in a sleek, modern style.
adjective
British English
- She sought a coiffured look for her wedding.
American English
- He admired her perfectly coiffured waves.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business contexts; the industry uses 'stylist', 'technician', or 'director'.
Academic
Only in historical or linguistic studies discussing archaic terminology.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation. Would likely cause confusion.
Technical
Not a standard technical term in cosmetology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coiffurist”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coiffurist”
- Spelling: 'coifurist', 'coifferist', 'quoiffurist'.
- Using it in a modern, neutral context.
- Assuming it is the standard English term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In core meaning, yes, but 'coiffurist' is an archaic, formal, or humorous term, while 'hairdresser' is the standard modern word.
No. It is not part of active modern vocabulary. Use 'hairdresser', 'hairstylist', or 'barber' as appropriate.
The term itself is gender-neutral but dated. The more common (though also somewhat formal) gendered pair from French is 'coiffeur' (male) and 'coiffeuse' (female).
It is a historical word that entered English from French ('coiffer') and was once in more regular use. Language evolves, and this term has fallen out of favour.
A hairdresser, especially one who specializes in styling.
Coiffurist is usually formal, dated, or humorous. in modern contexts, often used self-consciously or ironically. in register.
Coiffurist: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkwɑː.fə.rɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /kwɑˈfʊr.ɪst/ or /kwɑˈfjʊr.ɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'coiffure' (fancy hairstyle) + '-ist' (a person who does). It's a 'fancy-hair-person'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARTIST AS SCULPTOR (The coiffurist sculpts the hair into a shape.)
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'coiffurist' be LEAST appropriate?