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hairball

A trichobezoar; a small wad of fur or mass of hair formed in the digestive system of a cat or other animal, from hair ingested while grooming.

ˈhɛɹbəlCurrent173 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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2 definitions
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Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026

Seen in the wild

Definitions

#1·Apr 27, 2026

A trichobezoar; a small wad of fur or mass of hair formed in the digestive system of a cat or other animal, from hair ingested while grooming.

The contract negotiations are turning into a real hairball.
For parents

"hairball" means: A trichobezoar; a small wad of fur or mass of hair formed in the digestive system of a cat or other animal, from hair ingested while groomin.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"hairball" means: A trichobezoar; a small wad of fur or mass of hair formed in the digestive system of a cat or other animal, from hair ingested while groomin.... Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(slang, figuratively) A messy, tangled, intractable issue.

The contract negotiations are turning into a real hairball.
Heard in the wild
  • “Vets Best Cat Hairball Relief Digestive Aid, Vet Formulated Hairball Support Remedy, Hairball Relief for Cats, Classic Chicken Flavor, 60 Chewable Tablets”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Which Lucille Ball are you today? 1. Lick to the left d. Lick to the right 27. Hairball $. Who does that?”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “They say Chewbacca throws a mean hairball. ⚾️💙🤣🤣🤣”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Hairball in there for strike 1!”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Evil child that hacked a hairball on my nice clean sheets again”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

"hairball" means: A trichobezoar; a small wad of fur or mass of hair formed in the digestive system of a cat or other animal, from hair ingested while groomin.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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