hind

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈhīnd 

plural hinds also hind

1

chiefly British : the female of the red deer compare hart

2

: any of various spotted groupers (especially genus Epinephelus)

hind

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a British farm assistant

2

archaic : rustic

hind

3 of 3

adjective

: of or forming the part that follows or is behind : rear

the dog's hind legs

Synonyms

Adjective

• aft
• after
• back
• hinder
• hindmost
• posterior
• rear
• rearward

Examples of hind in a Sentence

Adjective

the frog's long hind legs

the hawk's reddish hind feathers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The front and hind legs are the most commonly affected bones in dogs, according to an article from VCA Animal Hospitals. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025

Trying desperately to avoid the oncoming body, my horse reared on its hind legs. —Jim Carmichel, Outdoor Life, 5 June 2025

Unlike modern-day sloths that typically stay in trees, this sloth spent most of its time on the ground, walking on its flat feet and at times standing on its hind legs, the Illinois State Museum reported. —Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025

The clip showed the cat approaching an armchair and standing against it with his two hind legs on the ground. —Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German hinta hind, Greek kemas young deer

Noun (2)

Middle English hine servant, farmhand, from Old English hīna, genitive of hīwan, plural, members of a household; akin to Old High German hīwo spouse, Latin civis fellow citizen

Adjective

Middle English, probably back-formation from Old English hinder, adverb, behind; akin to Old High German hintar, preposition, behind

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hind

• hind wing
• rock hind
• talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey

Rhymes for hind

• bind
• blind
• dined
• find
• fined
• grind
• kind
• lined
• mind
• mined
• pined
• rind

Kids Definition

hind

1 of 2 noun

ˈhīnd 

plural hinds also hind

chiefly British

: a female red deer

hind

2 of 2 adjective

: located behind : rear

hind legs

Etymology

Noun

Old English hind "female red deer"

Adjective

probably from Old English hinder (adverb) "behind"