hillbilly

noun

hill·​bil·​ly ˈhil-ˌbi-lē 

plural hillbillies

often disparaging + offensive

: a person from a backwoods area

Examples of hillbilly in a Sentence

Other kids called her a hillbilly because of her accent and her simple clothes.

in the skit, he was a shy hillbilly in love with a city girl

Recent Examples on the Web

Walters asks, with a show of reluctance, questions about hillbillies, adolescent development, breast surgeries and her husband — though the singer’s answers are always gracious. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

The film ushered in a horror subgenre of stories of modern suburbanites and city folk suffering a gory demise at the hands of deranged hillbillies, notably including The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and The Hills Have Eyes (1977). — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026

It’s been called hokey, a pastime for Appalachian hillbillies and much worse. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026

Cousins, hillbillies, and range brothers Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar have teamed up for another song. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

hill entry 1 + Billy, nickname for William

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hillbilly

noun

hill·​bil·​ly ˈhil-ˌbil-ē 

plural hillbillies

often offensive

: a person from a mountainous backwoods area

—often used disparagingly