heifer
Americannoun
-
heifers
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of heifer
First recorded before 900; Middle English hayfre, heighfer, Old English hēa(h)f(o)re; of uncertain origin; perhaps equivalent to hēah “high” + -fore (perhaps akin to Greek póris “heifer”); see also high ( def. )
Explanation
A heifer is a young cow. If you work on a farm, you might be tempted to adopt the smallest heifer as your pet, based on cuteness alone. Heifers are female cows who have not yet given birth to a calf. Farmers can raise heifers for dairy or for meat. In the 1830s, heifer, which is pronounced "HEFF-er," was first used as slang for "woman" or "girl." Since then, it took on the meaning of a female who is obese. It is very rude to single people out because of the way they look and so heifer should never be used.
Vocabulary lists containing heifer
Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Mythology
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
He had already lost a heifer with weak lungs and feared future reproductive problems.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
His brother, David Workman, killed in a fall off a cliff as he rode a mule in the dark in search of a lost heifer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2024
On that October morning in 2018, Ethan found his father dead in the heifer shed, his raincoat draped neatly over a door nearby.
From New York Times ● Apr. 19, 2023
"You can isolate the cow or the heifer on the farm away from the main herd," Mr Kurtz continued.
From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2023
The only trouble was, this heifer Spot, as we called her, had been snaky wild from the day she was born.
From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson
Because ranchers faced feed costs that consumed the value of their livestock, they sold off their herds or accelerated the slaughter of cows and heifers, creating a temporary surplus that compromised future supply.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2025
The team started with a group of 20 Holstein dairy heifers ranging from three to six months old, who had previous experience in the cattle chute area and with human handling.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 14, 2024
"The on-farm slaughter of heavily pregnant cows or heifers identified as TB reactors is a harrowing event for all concerned," said NFU Cymru TB Focus Group Chairman Roger Lewis.
From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2023
David made sure the high-ground critter pads where the family’s cows, calves and heifers would stay during the flooding were prepared, and he purchased extra feed for the animals just in case, he said.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 27, 2021
Pa would not kill either of his calves, because they were heifers and would grow into cows.
From "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder
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.
