Beard vs. Mustache: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 29, 2023
A beard is facial hair that grows on the chin, cheeks, and neck, while a mustache is specifically the hair that grows on the upper lip.
Key Differences
A beard encompasses all the facial hair on the chin, cheeks, and neck, offering various styling options. In contrast, a mustache is limited to the upper lip, with its own distinct styles.
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Beards can vary from short stubble to long, full growths, reflecting personal grooming choices. Mustaches, while smaller, range from thin pencil styles to thick, handlebar designs.
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Culturally, beards often symbolize masculinity, wisdom, or ruggedness. Mustaches, depending on style, can signify sophistication, quirkiness, or historical nostalgia.
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In maintenance, beards may require more extensive grooming and care due to their size. Mustaches, being more focused in area, often need precise trimming and styling.
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In history, beards have been seen as signs of power or religious devotion in many cultures. Mustaches, meanwhile, have gone through phases of popularity, often associated with specific historical figures or eras.
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Comparison Chart
Usage in Literature
Often symbolizes wisdom or authority.
Frequently represents sophistication or style.
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Cultural References
Commonly associated with masculinity and maturity.
Often seen as a mark of distinction or fashion.
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Beard and Mustache Definitions
Beard
A symbol of masculinity and maturity in many cultures.
His full beard was a sign of his coming of age.
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Mustache
Used in expressions to denote something trivial or insignificant.
That issue is not worth a whisker of a mustache.
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Beard
Often used to denote a certain style or fashion statement.
He sported a well-groomed beard at the party.
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Mustache
A symbol of style and sophistication in certain eras.
His handlebar mustache added to his charming persona.
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Beard
Used metaphorically to represent concealment or disguise.
The spy used a beard to hide his true identity.
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Mustache
Facial hair grown specifically on the upper lip.
He trimmed his mustache meticulously every morning.
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Beard
A growth of hair on the chin, cheeks, and throat of a person, especially a man.
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Mustache
Often associated with particular professions or historical periods.
The detective sported a classic detective's mustache.
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Beard
A tuft or growth of hairs, bristles, or other hairlike threads on a plant or animal.
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Mustache
Can be a sign of maturity and masculinity in various cultures.
His thick mustache was a matter of pride in his community.
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Beard
One who serves to divert suspicion or attention from another, especially a person of the opposite sex who accompanies a gay man or lesbian to give the impression of heterosexuality.
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Mustache
The hair growing on the human upper lip, especially when cultivated and groomed.
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Beard
(Printing)The raised slope on a piece of type between the shoulder or counter and the face.Also called neck.
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Mustache
Food or drink sticking conspicuously to the upper lip
Wiped the milk mustache from my face.
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Mustache
That part of the beard which grows on the upper lip; hair left growing above the mouth.
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Beard
The appendages to the jaw in some cetaceans, and to the mouth or jaws of some fishes.
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Mustache
A West African monkey (Cercopithecus cephus). It has yellow whiskers, and a triangular blue mark on the nose.
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Mustache
Any conspicuous stripe of color on the side of the head, beneath the eye of a bird.
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Mustache
A stain or discoloration on the upper lip of a person; as, wearing a milk mustache.
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Mustache
An unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip;
He looked younger after he shaved off his mustache
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Beard
A barb or sharp point of an arrow or other instrument, projecting backward to prevent the head from being easily drawn out.
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Beard
The curved underside of an axehead, extending from the lower end of the cutting edge to the axehandle.
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Beard
That part of the underside of a horse's lower jaw which is above the chin, and bears the curb of a bridle.
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Beard
That part of a type which is between the shoulder of the shank and the face.
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Beard
A fake customer or companion, especially a woman who accompanies a gay man, or a man who accompanies a lesbian, in order to give the impression that the person being accompanied is heterosexual.
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Beard
(transitive) To boldly and bravely oppose or confront, often to the chagrin of the one being bearded.
Robin Hood is always shown as bearding the Sheriff of Nottingham.
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Beard
(transitive) To take by the beard; to seize, pluck, or pull the beard of (a man), in anger or contempt.
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Beard
(transitive) To deprive (an oyster or similar shellfish) of the gills.
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Beard
Of a gay man or woman: to accompany a gay person of the opposite sex in order to give the impression that they are heterosexual.
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Beard
The hair that grows on the chin, lips, and adjacent parts of the human face, chiefly of male adults.
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Beard
A barb or sharp point of an arrow or other instrument, projecting backward to prevent the head from being easily drawn out.
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Beard
That part of the under side of a horse's lower jaw which is above the chin, and bears the curb of a bridle.
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Beard
That part of a type which is between the shoulder of the shank and the face.
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Beard
To take by the beard; to seize, pluck, or pull the beard of (a man), in anger or contempt.
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Beard
To oppose to the face; to set at defiance.
No admiral, bearded by these corrupt and dissolute minions of the palace, dared to do more than mutter something about a court martial.
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Beard
To deprive of the gills; - used only of oysters and similar shellfish.
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Beard
A tuft or growth of hairs or bristles on certain plants such as iris or grasses
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Beard
A person who diverts suspicion from someone (especially a woman who accompanies a male homosexual in order to conceal his homosexuality)
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Beard
Tuft of strong filaments by which e.g. a mussel makes itself fast to a fixed surface
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Beard
Go along the rim, like a beard around the chin;
Houses bearded the top of the heights
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Beard
Facial hair growing on the chin, cheeks, and neck.
He grew a beard to change his appearance.
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Beard
Can signify authority or wisdom in various contexts.
The wise old man stroked his beard thoughtfully.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are mustaches popular globally?
They vary in popularity across cultures and times.
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What's the trend for beards in fashion?
Beards often cycle through periods of popularity.
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Do mustaches require special care?
Yes, like waxing and combing for certain styles.
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Is beard growth influenced by genetics?
Yes, genetics play a significant role.
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What styles are popular for mustaches?
Handlebar, Chevron, and Pencil are some.
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Are there competitions for beards?
Yes, there are beard and mustache competitions globally.
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Is it hard to maintain a mustache?
It requires regular care but is manageable.
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What's the role of mustaches in fashion?
They often symbolize personal style or era-specific trends.
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What does a beard symbolize in history?
Strength, wisdom, or social status, depending on the culture.
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Are beards associated with any health benefits?
They can protect skin from UV rays.
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Can mustaches impact eating and drinking?
Sometimes they can, requiring extra care.
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Do beards change texture with age?
Yes, they can become coarser or change color.
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How long does it take to grow a beard?
It varies, but typically several weeks to months.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.