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• hex
  hex

  verb (used with object)

  to bewitch; practice witchcraft on.
• hex.
  hex.

  abbreviation

  hexagon

hex

¹ American  

[heks] / hɛks /

verb (used with object)

1. to bewitch; practice witchcraft on.

   He was accused of hexing his neighbors' cows because they suddenly stopped giving milk.

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noun

1. spell; charm.

   With all this rain, somebody must have put a hex on our picnic.

2. a witch.

hex ² American  

[heks] / hɛks /

adjective

Informal.

1. hexagonal.

   a bolt with a matching washer and hex nut.

2. hexadecimal.

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hex. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. hexagon

2. hexagonal.

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hex ¹ British  

/ hɛks /

noun

1. 1. short for hexadecimal

   2. ( as modifier )

      hex code

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hex ² British  

/ hɛks /

verb

1. (tr) to bewitch

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noun

1. an evil spell or symbol of bad luck

2. a witch

Other Word Forms

• hexer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of hex¹

1820–30; < German Hexe witch; see hag ¹

Origin of hex²

First recorded in 1920–25; by shortening

Explanation

A hex is a magic spell or charm that's meant to cause harm. A witch in a story, for example, might put a hex on a prince that turns him into a chicken. If you believe in magic, you might either fear hexes or aspire to learn how to put them on your enemies — to hex them. In the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, "hex signs," forms of stars, flowers, and circles, are commonly painted on barns. Though tourists often interpret these as having superstitious meanings, they're really just folk art symbols. The Middle High German root of hex is Hexe, or "witch."

Example Sentences

Now the co-founder and CEO of data-analytics startup Hex Technologies, McCardel has deliberately chosen not to utilize FDEs.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

“Coding has been the first breakout category of tools revolutionized by AI,” said Barry McCardel, co-founder and chief executive of data analytics startup Hex, based in San Francisco.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

Times article by Chris Dufresne about the woebegone and paranormal Angels cleverly headlined “The Hex Files.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2023

Also in the Owners is longtime Cat employee Laura Harris, who played drums in Ex Hex with local guitar virtuoso Mary Timony.

From Washington Post • Jan. 18, 2023

“Can’t be helped, down is down. Get me my Encyclopedia of Spells and the Hex Appendix.”

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

Related Words

• jinx
• whammy