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

Eggs from hens fed high-quality feed and given space to roam outdoors tend to have a better flavor and slightly more nutrients. —Lindsey Desoto, Health, 23 Oct. 2025

The Kele tribe won the immunity challenge, receiving three hens and a rooster as their reward. —Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2025

And The Hen House’s logo pays homage to a weathervane with a hen wearing a crown. —Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Oct. 2025

Ranegras plain basin is home to about 2,500 people, a flock of millions of egg-laying hens at Rose Acre Farms, some pistachio orchards, several dairies, feedlots and thousands of acres of alfalfa. —Clara Migoya, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 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