A wig is a covering of artificial or real hair that people wear on their heads. Wigs can look remarkably realistic, matching natural hairstyles so closely that you might not realize someone is wearing one.

People wear wigs for many different reasons. Actors wear wigs to transform into their characters: think of how different someone can look with long curly hair versus a short buzz cut. People who lose their hair due to medical treatments often wear wigs to feel more like themselves. In some professions, wigs are part of the traditional uniform: judges and lawyers in Britain still wear white powdered wigs in court, a tradition dating back centuries.

Throughout history, wigs have been fashion statements too. In the 1700s, wealthy European men and women wore elaborate powdered wigs that could be ridiculously tall and decorated with ribbons, feathers, or even miniature ships. American Founding Fathers like George Washington often wore wigs as a sign of dignity and status.

The phrase “wig out” means to become very excited or upset, though nobody's quite sure why. And if someone says a performance or outfit is so amazing that “my wig flew off,” they mean it completely astonished them.