# hairpin

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhɛə.pɪn/ · frequency rank #37,956

## Definitions
1. A pin or fastener for the hair.
2. A kind of ribozyme; hairpin ribozyme.
3. A very tight bend in a road; a hairpin bend.
4. An elongated horizontal v-shaped sign placed underneath a staff to indicate a crescendo or decrescendo.

## Etymology
From hair + pin, 1788 (as hair pin). Adjective sense 1906 in hairpin turn etc.

## Easily confused with
- **Hardin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hairpin-vs-hardin)
- **Harbin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hairpin-vs-harbin)
- **hairline** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hairline-vs-hairpin)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ahirpin`, `haiprin`, `hairipn`, `hairpinn`, `hairpni`, `hairppin`, `hairrpin`, `haripin`, `hhairpin`, `hiarpin`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hairpin