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
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.
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
From 2019 to 2023, the Hoosier State directly paid the company $58 million for autism-therapy services, billing records show.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
“To be here it’s surreal,” said linebacker Isaiah Jones, a Hoosier since 2022.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026
It was the first touchdown scored by a Hoosier at the Rose Bowl in program history, the perfect way to establish Indiana’s domination.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026
“We need to pick up our pace. Quick—where would I find a book called Hoosier Hospitality written by Eve Healy Aresty?”
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
