A goatee is a style of facial hair where a person grows a small beard only on their chin, leaving their cheeks clean-shaven. The tuft of hair often looks a bit pointed or rounded, sitting right below the lower lip and covering just the chin area.

The name comes from its resemblance to the beard that grows on a male goat's chin. If you've ever seen a goat up close, you've probably noticed that distinctive little beard dangling from its chin while the rest of its face stays furry but beardless.

Goatees have appeared throughout history in different cultures. In the 1500s and 1600s, many European men wore goatees as a fashionable style. The look became popular again in America during the 1990s and remains a common choice today. Some people choose a goatee because it's easier to maintain than a full beard, or because it suits the shape of their face.

When people describe someone's appearance in a story or when giving a description to identify someone, they might mention a goatee as a distinguishing feature, just like they might mention glasses, curly hair, or a scar.