hind

1 of 3

noun (1)

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 of hind

Examples of hind in a Sentence

Adjective the frog's long hind legs the hawk's reddish hind feathers
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.
Noun
Rabbits, with their large hind paws, can stand atop the snow to reach higher portions of tree trunks. Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025 Unlike bears and big cats, which kill their prey and then consume it, canines oftentimes tire their prey, bring it down, and start feasting on and around the hind quarters while the animal is still alive. Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025 Each of the critter’s wings and hind limbs gave off a green photoluminescence, Roberson observed. Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025 Unlike the forefoot that touches the ground only with its hooves, the hind feet have a fleshy heel pad behind the hooves. Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hind

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)

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Cite this Entry

“Hind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hind. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

hind

1 of 2 noun
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on hind

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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