hillbilly
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.”
How to use hillbilly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA stereotype-laden term for someone from rural, mountainous parts of the American South.
Often considered derogatory or a stereotype; use with care, especially outside self-identification.
Word forms
hillbillied past tense, hillbillies plural, hillbillies singular
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.
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.