Definition

Noun: A very small distance or space; an extremely narrow margin.

Usage

This word is used to describe a situation where success, failure, or an event is determined by an almost immeasurably small amount. It emphasizes how close something was to being different. It is often used in the phrases "by a hairsbreadth" or "a hairsbreadth away from."

Examples

• The car missed the pedestrian by a hairsbreadth.
• The bullet passed a hairsbreadth from his head.
• She won the race by a hairsbreadth.
• The two political candidates were separated by a hairsbreadth in the final vote count.

Advanced Usage

• "A hairsbreadth away from (something)": This phrase is used to indicate being extremely close to a particular state or event, often a negative one.
  • The company was a hairsbreadth away from bankruptcy before the new investment.
  • His reckless behavior put him a hairsbreadth away from disaster.

Variants and Related Words

• Hair's breadth: This is a common alternate spelling, often seen with an apostrophe (hair's-breadth, hair's breadth). Both "hairsbreadth" and "hair's breadth" are correct and have the same meaning.
• Hairbreadth: A less common variant spelling.

Synonyms

• Whisker
• Fraction
• Shade
• Narrow margin
• Slim margin
• Razor-thin margin

Idioms and Phrases

• By a hairsbreadth: This is the standard idiomatic phrase using the word.
  • The proposal passed by a hairsbreadth.
• Within a hairsbreadth of: Functionally similar to "a hairsbreadth away from."
  • He came within a hairsbreadth of winning the championship.

Noun

1. a very small distance or space
   • they escaped by a hair's-breadth
   • they lost the election by a whisker