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

The rates in backyard flocks or pullet (young hen) groupings can be even higher—sometimes as much as 1 in 50. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2025

However, the space that the hens inhabit could sometimes be quite small and subject to overcrowding. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 23 July 2025

Guests ordering eggs can choose between hen or duck eggs, sourced from a nearby farm where the kitchen composts their organic waste. —Devorah Lev-Tov, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2025

Producer Cal-Maine said in its earnings report on Tuesday that its average number of laying hens in its fourth fiscal quarter of 2025 climbed 18% compared with the same period a year prior. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 23 July 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