noun
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seeds or fragments of grass or straw
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informal a yokel
Etymology
Origin of hayseed
Explanation
A hayseed is an unintelligent country person, or a hick. You might be tempted to call your farmer cousin a hayseed, but your cousin would probably be upset. The derogatory term hayseed is aimed at rural folks who aren't particularly urbane or savvy — it's a stereotype of someone who's comfortable in the country being awkward, bumbling, and unsophisticated, especially when visiting a city. This U.S. slang comes from the common 19th century saying that country people "have hayseed in their hair."
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.
Old meaning of hick: hayseed, rube, ill-educated person.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
Grey Henson and Ashley D. Kelley as the gleeful Storytellers, Kevin Cahoon as a hayseed philosopher and Caroline Innerbichler as the requisite ingenue all joyfully indulge the cheeky, harmlessly off-color vibe.
From Washington Post • Apr. 20, 2023
He chose his favored venue of the Aspen Ideas festival, where his transfixing hayseed act has been a perennial marquee attraction.
From The Guardian • Oct. 11, 2020
But, for the life of me I can't recall exactly which movie it was and looking at a list doesn't make that task any easier for us hayseed stuffkickers.
From New York Times • Dec. 20, 2017
Lawrence was also, in Cooksey’s eyes, still very much a hayseed.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
