hick
Americannoun
adjective
-
pertaining to or characteristic of hicks.
hick ideas.
-
located in a rural or culturally unsophisticated area.
a hick town.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of hick
1555–65; after Hick, familiar form of Richard
Explanation
A hick is an unsophisticated, rural person. Your accent and fondness for wearing overalls might make some people think you're a hick. The word hick is both informal and derogatory — in other words, if you call your cousin who raises dairy goats and chickens a hick, she'll probably be offended. Hick is an adjective too: "I've got to get out of this hick town!" Hick was originally a nickname — like "Rick" — for "Richard," in the 14th century. Along the way, it meant both "hosteler" and "awkward provincial person."
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.
Dr. John Hick, who worked with first responders, heard the emergency radio chatter while driving and rushed to the scene with an idea.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 26, 2024
Hick will help the company "step beyond fossil fuels", said Forrest.
From Reuters • Nov. 29, 2022
Graeme Hick is the only other player who has made a quadruple century in the Championship, when he made an unbeaten 405 for Worcestershire against Somerset in 1988.
From BBC • Jul. 23, 2022
“We will continue to look at the type of capabilities that the Ukrainians are asking for in terms of how to give them more range and distance,” Ms. Hick told reporters Tuesday.
From Washington Times • Apr. 12, 2022
In addition, punctuation and formatting have been made consistent, particularly the use of quotation marks. illegible; illegible, Fayetteville, Ark. Uncle Willie, Uncle Sam, Uncle Charlie, Squire Sabagen, Uncle Hick.
From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Arkansas Narratives, Part 3 by Work Projects Administration
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.
