noun
hillbilly
HIHL-bih-lee
Hillbilly (noun) means (often informal or disparaging) A person from a rural, hilly area, especially the southern United States, stereotyped as unsophisticated. Example: “The movie leaned on tired hillbilly stereotypes for its jokes.”
noun
1
(often informal or disparaging) A person from a rural, hilly area, especially the southern United States, stereotyped as unsophisticated.
"The movie leaned on tired hillbilly stereotypes for its jokes."
"Thanks to the massive migration from the poorer regions of Appalachia to places like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, hillbilly values spread widely along with hillbilly people."
— JD Vance, Hillbilly Elegy (2017)
How to use hillbilly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA stereotype-laden term for someone from rural, mountainous parts of the American South.
When to use it
Often considered derogatory or a stereotype; use with care, especially outside self-identification.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- hillbillies
- Third person singular
- hillbillies
- Past tense
- hillbillied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The movie leaned on tired _____ stereotypes for its jokes.
Etymology
From hill + billy ("fellow"), a term originally used for rural mountain dwellers, especially in Appalachia.
Synonyms
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bushwhacker
Rhymes for hillbilly
See all rhymes for hillbilly →Frequently asked questions
What does “hillbilly” mean?
The word “hillbilly” means (often informal or disparaging) A person from a rural, hilly area, especially the southern United States, stereotyped as unsophisticated. In plain terms, a stereotype-laden term for someone from rural, mountainous parts of the American South.
How do you pronounce “hillbilly”?
“Hillbilly” is pronounced HIHL-bih-lee (/ˈhɪlˌbɪli/ in IPA).
How do you use “hillbilly” in a sentence?
Here is “hillbilly” used in a sentence: “The movie leaned on tired hillbilly stereotypes for its jokes.”
What part of speech is “hillbilly”?
“Hillbilly” is a noun.
