terminal hair

This term is a technical anatomical descriptor used primarily in medical, biological, and dermatological contexts. It is used to distinguish coarse, pigmented hair from vellus hair, which is the fine, nearly invisible "peach fuzz" found on most of the body. The transition from vellus to terminal hair is a key physiological marker of puberty.

Because it is a specialized scientific term, it is rarely used in casual conversation. In a non-clinical setting, people would typically use more general terms like "thick hair" or "body hair." It is almost always used as a collective noun referring to a type of hair growth rather than individual strands.