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

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

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