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Definition of follicle

follicle

/ˈfɑːlɪkəl/
fol · li · cle
Plural:follicles
•
Adjective:follicular
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follicle Lexical Profile

follicle Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small secretory cavity, sac, or gland in the body, especially the tubular indentation in the skin from which a hair grows or the fluid-filled sac in the ovary that contains a developing egg.

Example

"Each hair grows from a tiny follicle embedded in the dermal layer of the skin."

2

In botany, a dry, unilocular fruit formed from a single carpel that splits open along one seam to release its seeds, as in milkweed or larkspur.

Example

"In late autumn, the dried milkweed follicle splits along a single suture to release its silky seeds into the wind."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for follicle

• Rhymes for follicle

• Nearby Words

folktale
folkways
folky
follicle
follies
follow
followee

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 17th century from Latin folliculus ('little bag'), a diminutive of follis ('bellows, leather bag, or inflated ball').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Follicle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/follicle
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