Stubble is the short, stiff hairs that poke out from skin after shaving or cutting hair very short. When a man shaves his beard in the morning, he might have stubble by evening: those prickly little hairs that feel rough if you touch his face.

You'll most commonly hear stubble referring to facial hair, but it applies anywhere hair grows back after being cut close to the skin. A woman might notice stubble on her legs between shaves. Someone with a buzz cut has stubble covering their head.

Stubble has a distinctive scratchy feeling. If your dad has stubble and gives you a kiss on the cheek, you'll definitely feel those rough little hairs! Some people think a bit of stubble looks rugged or mature, while others prefer being clean-shaven. In movies, a character with stubble often looks tired, busy, or like they've been through something difficult, since people who are relaxed and well-rested are often shown having time to shave neatly.