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noun

dandruff

DAND-ruhf

Dandruff (noun) means Small white flakes of dead skin that shed from the scalp. Example: “He switched shampoos to try to get rid of his dandruff.”

noun
1
Small white flakes of dead skin that shed from the scalp.
"He switched shampoos to try to get rid of his dandruff."

How to use dandruff

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe flaky dead skin that comes off the scalp, often treated with special shampoo.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
dandruff shampoo flaky dandruff

Word forms

dandruffed past tense, dandruffs plural, dandruffs singular

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He switched shampoos to try to get rid of his _____.

Etymology

First recorded in the 1500s; the second half of the word comes from an old Northern English word for a scab, related to Old Norse hrufa.

Origin: Old Norse · First attested 1500

Class of 1500 dandruff joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →

Frequently asked questions

What does “dandruff” mean?

The word “dandruff” means small white flakes of dead skin that shed from the scalp. In plain terms, the flaky dead skin that comes off the scalp, often treated with special shampoo.

How do you pronounce “dandruff”?

“Dandruff” is pronounced DAND-ruhf (/ˈdændɹəf/ in IPA).

How do you use “dandruff” in a sentence?

Here is “dandruff” used in a sentence: “He switched shampoos to try to get rid of his dandruff.”

What part of speech is “dandruff”?

“Dandruff” is a noun.

Where does the word “dandruff” come from?

The word “dandruff” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Old Norse. First recorded in the 1500s; the second half of the word comes from an old Northern English word for a scab, related to Old Norse hrufa.

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