noun
haywire
HAY-weye-uh
Haywire (noun) means Thin, flexible wire originally used to bind bales of hay. Example: “He fixed the fence with a bit of old haywire.”
noun
1
Thin, flexible wire originally used to bind bales of hay.
"He fixed the fence with a bit of old haywire."
adj
1
Out of control, malfunctioning, or thrown into chaos.
"The whole system went haywire the moment the power flickered."
"Her plans went haywire when the flight got cancelled."
How to use haywire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed almost always in the phrase "go haywire," meaning something has gone chaotically wrong.
Common pairings
go haywire
things went haywire
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Word forms
- Plural
- haywires
- Third person singular
- haywires
- Past tense
- haywired
- Comparative
- more haywire
- Superlative
- most haywire
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He fixed the fence with a bit of old _____.
Etymology
From logging camps around 1905, where flimsy equipment held together with hay-bale wire was called a "haywire outfit" — the phrase "go haywire" grew from that image of things falling apart or tangling unpredictably.
Class of 1905
haywire joined the language around 1905.
See the full Class of 1905 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for haywire
See all rhymes for haywire →Frequently asked questions
What does “haywire” mean?
The word “haywire” means thin, flexible wire originally used to bind bales of hay. In plain terms, used almost always in the phrase "go haywire," meaning something has gone chaotically wrong.
How do you pronounce “haywire”?
“Haywire” is pronounced HAY-weye-uh (/ˈheɪ.waɪɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “haywire” in a sentence?
Here is “haywire” used in a sentence: “He fixed the fence with a bit of old haywire.”
What part of speech is “haywire”?
Depending on how it is used, “haywire” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “haywire” come from?
The word “haywire” dates back to around 1905. From logging camps around 1905, where flimsy equipment held together with hay-bale wire was called a "haywire outfit" — the phrase "go haywire" grew from that image of things falling apart or tangling unpredictably.
How many meanings does “haywire” have?
“Haywire” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: thin, flexible wire originally used to bind bales of hay.
