# Hays

/ˈheɪz/ (US) · /hˈeɪz/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hays
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

dried grass that people use to feed farm animals like horses and cows. It is usually cut and stored in large bundles called bales.

For teachers: grass that has been mown and dried for use as fodder. Plural form of 'hay', though the singular is more common when referring to the material as a mass.

## Examples

- The farmer stores the dry hays in the barn for winter.
- Different types of hays, such as alfalfa and timothy, provide varying levels of nutrition for the livestock.
- The agricultural study compared several local hays to determine which variety maintained the highest protein content after six months of storage in humid conditions.

## Usage notes

- Usually uncountable when referring to the material ('a pile of hay'); the plural 'hays' is used to distinguish between different botanical varieties or commercial types.

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