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
Now Congress is moving to make sure that same process cannot happen when the animals in question are pigs, calves, or hens.
—
Jesse Plunkett, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Police recovered 29 animals in total, including 15 roosters, four hens, nine baby chicks and a puppy.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Ann and Pat later moved to a 10-acre farm east of Franktown, where Schrader gardened, raised hens, spoiled cats and hoisted 50-pound bales of hay among other chores for the family’s eight horses.
—Billie Stanton, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
On this farm, the hens filled it.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hen
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Jesse Plunkett, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Police recovered 29 animals in total, including 15 roosters, four hens, nine baby chicks and a puppy.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Ann and Pat later moved to a 10-acre farm east of Franktown, where Schrader gardened, raised hens, spoiled cats and hoisted 50-pound bales of hay among other chores for the family’s eight horses.
—Billie Stanton, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
On this farm, the hens filled it.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hen
Cite this Entry
“Hen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hen. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hen
noun1
: a female chicken especially over a year old
2
: a female of any bird
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