1
: a close-fitting cap: such as
a
: a hoodlike cap worn under a veil by nuns
b
: a protective usually metal skullcap formerly worn under a hood of mail
c
: a white cap formerly worn by English lawyers and especially by serjeants-at-law
also
: the order or rank of a serjeant-at-law
2
: coiffure
… wore her hair teased into a dramatic coif.—
Lawrence Wright
Lawrence Wright
coiffed or coifed; coiffing or coifing
1
: to cover or dress with or as if with a coif
2
[after French coiffer — more at coiffure]
: to arrange (hair) by brushing, combing, or curling
Her long blonde hair was nicely coifed.
Examples of coif in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
George Yang, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025
Classic Curls Not one to stray from what works, Marilyn Monroe wears her bridal bombshell blonde chop pinned up into classically romantic curls, her coif covered with a chin-length wedding veil.
16.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024
Julia Teti, WWD, 3 Feb. 2025
My hair was coiffed into a sleek modern bun by David Cotteblanche, the stylist behind three of my Met Gala hairdos, and a Bobbi Brown artist applied my makeup.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coif 
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Noun
Henry first has to put on a mail coif before adding on any other sort of head protection, as well as wear a pair of leggings under his leg armor.
—George Yang, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025
Classic Curls Not one to stray from what works, Marilyn Monroe wears her bridal bombshell blonde chop pinned up into classically romantic curls, her coif covered with a chin-length wedding veil.
16.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
Her hair was coiffed into a tight chignon with a sleek design to omit any fly-aways by hairstylist Dayaruci.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 3 Feb. 2025
My hair was coiffed into a sleek modern bun by David Cotteblanche, the stylist behind three of my Met Gala hairdos, and a Bobbi Brown artist applied my makeup.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coif
Dictionary Entries Near coif
Cite this Entry
“Coif.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coif. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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