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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One need only read the US State Department’s 2024 human rights report on China to realize that naming a Chinese official to a human rights advisory committee is analogous to putting a wolf in charge of a hen house. Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025 As of today, October 10, which also happens to be World Egg Day, Tweety has flourished into a happy and healthy hen. Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 And no, hens don’t require the attention of a rooster to lay eggs. Joan Morris, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025 What was originally imagined as a space for multigenerational groups has since become a coveted backdrop for yoga retreats and hen weekends—where guests inevitably jostle for the chance to curl up in one of the cabin beds. Chloe Frost-Smith, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hen

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of hen was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hen. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

hen

noun
1
: a female chicken especially over a year old
2
: a female of any bird

More from Merriam-Webster on hen

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