Losing hair, especially from the top of the head; becoming bald.
From Middle English 'balled' (possibly from a Scandinavian source meaning 'rounded' or 'bare'). The connection to the smooth, rounded shape of a hairless head is likely. Modern usage dates back to the 1500s.
About two-thirds of men experience some hair loss by age 50, but it's less talked about than you'd think! Interestingly, male-pattern baldness is actually an ancient trait—we can see evidence of it in Egyptian art from 5,000 years ago.
Male hair loss normalized/accepted; female hair loss medicalized or stigmatized. Language asymmetry reflects different social standards for men/women's appearance.
Use neutrally for all. When discussing hair loss, avoid gendering experiences differently or implying greater consequence for women.
["hair loss","thinning hair"]
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.