hen

noun

ˈhen 

1

a

: a female chicken especially over a year old

broadly : a female bird

b

: the female of various mostly aquatic animals (such as lobsters or fish)

2

: woman

especially : a fussy middle-aged woman

Examples of hen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, Versova said the price of most of its eggs depends on cost fluctuations of grain used in hen feeds. — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 2 July 2026

There were 315 million egg-laying hens in the US on March 1, an 8% jump from a year earlier and the most for March since 2022, so prices are expected to keep sliding through the rest of the year. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

Instead, Versova said the price of most of its eggs depends on cost fluctuations of grain used in hen feeds. — ABC News, 30 June 2026

Plan for the full lifespan, since hens live five to ten years but only lay productively for two or three. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English henn; akin to Old English hana rooster — more at chant

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hen

• Cornish game hen
• Cornish hen
• game hen
• hazel hen
• heath hen
• hen and chickens
• hen night
• hen of the wood
• hen of the woods
• hen party
• hen track
• marsh hen
• mother hen
• Rock Cornish game hen
• Rock Cornish hen
• tappit hen
• water hen

Rhymes for hen

• ben
• bren
• chen
• den
• en
• gen
• glen
• jen
• ken
• men
• pen
• sten

Kids Definition

hen

noun

ˈhen 

1

: a female chicken especially over a year old

2

: a female of any bird