Hampshire

American

[hamp-sher, -sheer] / ˈhæmp ʃər, -ʃɪər /

noun

Also called Hants. a county in S England. 1,460 sq. mi. (3,780 sq. km).
Also called Hampshire Down. one of an English breed of sheep having a dark face, ears, and legs, noted for the rapid growth of its lambs.
one of an English breed of black hogs having a broad band of white over the shoulders and front legs.

Hampshire ¹ British

/ -ʃə, ˈhæmpˌʃɪə /

noun

Hants. a county of S England, on the English Channel: crossed by the Hampshire Downs and the South Downs, with the New Forest in the southwest and many prehistoric and Roman remains: the geographical and ceremonial county includes Portsmouth and Southampton, which became independent unitary authorities in 1997. Administrative centre: Winchester. Pop (excluding unitary authorities): 1 251 000 (2003 est). Area (excluding unitary authorities): 3679 sq km (1420 sq miles)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Hampshire ² British

/ ˈhæmpʃə /

noun

Sir Stuart. 1914–2004, British philosopher: his publications include Thought and Action (1959), Two Theories of Morality (1977), and Innocence and Experience (1989)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Mr. Sununu is the former governor of New Hampshire.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

Stuart Smith, 48, was a teacher at Mayville High School in Portsmouth, Hampshire, where he had also been appointed to the roles of assistant head of Year 11 and head of house.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Lovell will captain Cockfosters, from Enfield in north London, in the FA Vase final against AFC Stoneham, based in the Hampshire town of Eastleigh.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

A few of the growing, old industrial cities with generally cheaper housing and lengthy commutes include Manchester and Nashua, the biggest cities in no-income-tax New Hampshire.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Bassett was planning a business trip to New Hampshire, and Washington told him to find her and bring her back, along with any children she may have had.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023