blonde
blond
Blonde (adjective) means of hair, pale yellow, golden or very light in colour; of a person, having such hair. Example: “Her hair went blonde after a summer on the coast.”
adjective
1
Of hair, pale yellow, golden or very light in colour; of a person, having such hair.
"Her hair went blonde after a summer on the coast."
"He dyed it blonde before the tour."
"The twins have the same blonde curls as their grandmother."
2
Of wood, beer or other materials, pale in colour.
"The kitchen was fitted in blonde oak."
"They serve a crisp blonde ale."
"The shelves were made of blonde birch, light and airy."
noun
1
can sound dated or reductive when used of a person A woman or girl with fair hair.
"A tall blonde was waiting at the bar."
"The blonde at the next table waved at her friend."
"He asked a young blonde for directions to the museum."
How to use blonde
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving pale yellow or golden hair.
When to use it
Calling a woman a blonde as a noun can seem old-fashioned or dismissive; describing hair as blonde is entirely neutral.
Memory tip
Both spellings are correct English; blonde is the more common everyday spelling in British English for the colour.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
dyed blonde
platinum blonde
strawberry blonde
natural blonde
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her hair went _____ after a summer on the coast.
Etymology
From French blonde, the feminine form of blond, meaning fair-haired.
Related words
Rhymes for blonde
See all rhymes for blonde →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between blond and blonde?
The distinction comes from French, where blond describes a man and blonde a woman. English keeps this loosely: blond for a man or boy, blonde for a woman or girl. American style guides increasingly use blond as the neutral adjective for hair of any owner, while British writers commonly use blonde throughout.
Is it rude to call someone a blonde?
Describing someone's hair as blonde is perfectly neutral. Using blonde as a noun for a woman can sound dated, and jokes about blondes being unintelligent are widely considered sexist, so most careful writers avoid the noun.
What is the meaning of blonde?
"blonde" (adjective) means of hair, pale yellow, golden or very light in colour; of a person, having such hair.
What is another word for blonde?
Other words for "blonde" include fair, golden, flaxen, platinum, light, blond.
