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

Why are egg prices soaring? Behind rising egg prices and shortages is a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), known as H5N1, that killed 13.2 million commercial egg-laying hens in the month of December alone and continues to depopulate flocks into 2025, according to the USDA. —Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2025

In November and December alone, the virus killed about 17.2 million egg-laying hens – half of 2024’s total, according to the USDA. —Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN, 28 Jan. 2025

While some states avoided last year's outbreaks, many have recently reported a resurgence of the virus, which the USDA reported killed about 17.2 million egg-laying hens in November and December. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025

As reported by Newsweek on Wednesday, a Chicago farm lost 3,000 of its hens to the disease this week alone. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 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

Kids Definition

hen

noun

ˈhen 

1

: a female chicken especially over a year old

2

: a female of any bird