hammock

1 of 2

noun (1)

ham·​mock ˈha-mək 

: a swinging couch or bed usually made of netting or canvas and slung by cords from supports at each end

Illustration of hammock

• ¹hammock

hammock

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: hummock

2

: a fertile area in the southern U.S. and especially Florida that is usually higher than its surroundings and that is characterized by hardwood vegetation and deep humus-rich soil

Examples of hammock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Evenings are best spent swinging in the outdoor hammock, listening for the sounds of hooting owls and churring nightjars. — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 24 July 2026

In the bathroom, a sculptural stone soaking tub might convince you to skip the beach for an afternoon (a private patio with a hammock and open-air shower just about seals the deal). — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2026

Find a shady spot, hang a hammock, and give yourself permission to slow down for an hour. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026

There are gorgeous swaths of untouched beaches, as well as dune, lagoon, pine flatland, salt marsh, and hammock habitats to explore. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 19 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Spanish hamaca, from Taino

Noun (2)

earlier hammok, hommoke, humock; akin to Middle Low German hummel small height, hump bump — more at hump

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1626, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hammock

• aerodynamic
• geodynamic
• haemodynamic
• hemodynamic
• hydrodynamic
• hypothalamic
• photodynamic
• psychodynamic
• spinothalamic
• thermodynamic
• ceramic
• dynamic

Kids Definition

hammock

noun

ham·​mock

ˈham-ək

: a swinging couch or bed usually made of netting or canvas and slung by cords from supports at each end