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.
—
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
One nesting box per three or four hens, about 18 inches off the floor.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
30 June 2026
Chicken would be eaten on special occasions — to sacrifice a good hen rather than use it for its eggs would be a delicacy.
—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hen
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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
One nesting box per three or four hens, about 18 inches off the floor.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
30 June 2026
Chicken would be eaten on special occasions — to sacrifice a good hen rather than use it for its eggs would be a delicacy.
—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hen
Cite this Entry
“Hen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hen. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hen
noun1
: a female chicken especially over a year old
2
: a female of any bird
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