Hoosier
Americannoun
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a native or inhabitant of Indiana (used as a nickname).
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(usually lowercase) any awkward, unsophisticated person, especially a rustic.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Hoosier
An Americanism dating back to 1920–30; of uncertain origin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Michigan and Ohio drivers saw sharp price drops, while the Hoosier State “experienced even steeper relief after the state temporarily waived both its excise and use taxes on gasoline.”
From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026
But Kennedy Smith put the finishing touches on any Indiana comeback, snagging the ball away from Hoosier guard Lenee Davenport in the final minute as she tried to lift up for a lay-in.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026
A day after taking the job, he strode before a crowd of Hoosier fans and unleashed a bold proclamation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026
“To be here it’s surreal,” said linebacker Isaiah Jones, a Hoosier since 2022.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026
Hoosier Hill is only eleven miles from town, so we don’t have far to go.
From "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
