Perm Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms perm 1 American [purm] / pɜrm /

noun

1. permanent.

verb (used with object)

1. to give (the hair) a permanent.

verb (used without object)

1. to apply a permanent to the hair.

Perm 2 American [purm, pairm, pyerm] / pɜrm, pɛərm, pyɛrm /

noun

1. a city in the E Russian Federation in Europe, on the Kama River.

perm 1 British / pɜːm /

noun

1. Also called (esp formerly): permanent wave. a hairstyle produced by treatment with heat, chemicals, etc which gives long-lasting waves, curls, or other shaping

2. the act of giving or receiving such a hairstyle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. (tr) to give a perm to (hair)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Perm 2 British / pjermj /

noun

1. Former name (1940–62): Molotov. a port in W Russia, on the Kama River: oil refinery; university (1916). Pop: 984 000 (2005 est)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 perm 3 British / pɜːm /

noun

1. short for permutation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of perm

First recorded in 1925–30; by shortening

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But when she arrives at Iona’s apartment, Andie is shocked to see that a coiffed perm, light makeup, a sensible suit and a string of pearls have replaced her friend’s beehives and gelled spikes.

From Salon

She immediately suggested they have ChatGPT generate a photo of him with a perm.

From The Wall Street Journal

She ate more black beans, lathered her scalp with French soap and opted for root perms.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Mrs. Carter put a perm in my hair in ‘79.

From Los Angeles Times

He quickly apologizes for his hair — in all of its shaggy, slightly curled glory — as he combs his fingers through it: “I’ve got a perm. Life is good.”

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.