Blond vs Blonde | Difference & Examples
The adjective blonde describes hair that is light yellow or a very light shade of brown and can also be spelled blond. The preferred spelling is often “blonde” when referring to a woman. “Blonde” is pronounced in the same way as “blond.”
| Blond in a sentence examples | Blonde in a sentence examples |
|---|---|
| He has blond hair. | She has blonde hair. |
| He dyed his hair blond. | She dyed her hair blonde. |
| The director wanted a blond as the leading man. | The director wanted a blonde as the leading lady. |
In practice, the two spellings are still being used interchangeably. The important thing is to be consistent with your spelling choice throughout your texts, and, if you are writing for a publication, company or institution, to follow its guidelines.
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Blonde or blond hair
Blond, rather than “blonde,” is the modern, gender-neutral spelling of the adjective used to describe hair as light yellow/brown. It can be used to describe both men’s and women’s hair. Blonde is generally only used to describe the color of women’s and girls’ hair.
She surprised her fans with a new platinum-blond/blonde look.
A blond man with glasses asked her for directions.
The noun meaning “a woman with blond hair” is still usually spelled with an “e.” However, referring to a woman as “a blonde” is old-fashioned and often objectifying. Nowadays, the noun “blonde” is therefore mostly used with an awareness of these connotations and often in a lighthearted or ironic way.
The title of her latest play is War of the Blondes.
Blonde/blond for product descriptions
If you are writing about a specific product, check product names and marketing texts to determine whether a standard spelling has emerged.
For instance, blonde is the preferred spelling in connection with:
- Blonde ale (a style of beer)
- Blonde roast coffee (coffee made from lightly-roasted beans)
- Blonde wood (light-colored wood used in furniture and flooring)
