Hoosier
Americannoun
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a native or inhabitant of Indiana (used as a nickname).
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(usually lowercase) any awkward, unsophisticated person, especially a rustic.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of Hoosier
An Americanism dating back to 1920–30; of uncertain origin
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.
Hailing from Indianapolis, Cohen credits fellow Hoosier Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., for capturing the simple pleasures that The Beatles’ songbook offers.
From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026
Michigan and Ohio drivers saw sharp price drops, while the Hoosier State “experienced even steeper relief after the state temporarily waived both its excise and use taxes on gasoline.”
From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026
At the center of it is Curt Cignetti, the deadpan coaching lifer who took a flier on Bloomington in 2023, told Hoosier Nation he wins wherever he goes —“Google me”—and went out and did it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026
Through tears, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza thanked every member of his family after becoming the first Hoosier to ever win the Heisman Trophy.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2025
“I was, like, the prototypical white Hoosier kid,” he said.
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
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.
