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
One hen will produce 250 to 300 eggs per year, the group said.
—
Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2024
The agency recommends that hens be housed outside of cages.
—Christine Ro, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
During three to four of those years, hens will produce eggs.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
For decades the sanctuary has housed, and observed the behavior of, farm animals – like the laying hens Ms. Prasad-Shreckengast is hoping to tempt into her study.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hen 
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.
Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2024
The agency recommends that hens be housed outside of cages.
—Christine Ro, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
During three to four of those years, hens will produce eggs.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
For decades the sanctuary has housed, and observed the behavior of, farm animals – like the laying hens Ms. Prasad-Shreckengast is hoping to tempt into her study.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hen
Articles Related to hen
Dictionary Entries Near hen
Cite this Entry
“Hen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hen. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hen
noun1
: a female chicken especially over a year old
2
: a female of any bird
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share