# henry

/ˈhɛnɹi/ (US) · /hˈɛnɹi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common traditional name for a man.

For teachers: a male given name of Germanic origin, historically significant and widely used in English-speaking countries.

- Henry was the name of eight different kings of England.
- The name Henry saw a significant resurgence in popularity during the early twenty-first century, frequently appearing in top-ten lists for newborn boys.

### 4. a vacuum cleaner

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

a popular brand of vacuum cleaner in the UK that has a face drawn on it.

For teachers: A common brand of canister vacuum cleaner manufactured by Numatic International, often used as a genericized trademark in British households.

- I need to get the Henry out and clean the rug before the guests arrive.
- The Henry vacuum cleaner is renowned for its durability and iconic smiling face, making it a staple in both domestic and commercial cleaning.

### 5. a small amount of drugs

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang

a slang term for a specific small weight of marijuana.

For teachers: A slang term for an eighth of an ounce of marijuana, derived from rhyming slang for King Henry the Eighth.

- He went to meet his friend to pick up a Henry for the weekend.
- In certain urban dialects, the term Henry remains a standard coded reference for purchasing small quantities of cannabis.

## Examples

- The car repairs cost me a Henry.
- He managed to save a Henry by the end of the month to pay for his holiday.
- In certain London financial circles, referring to an eight-hundred-pound fee as a Henry remains a common, if somewhat dated, colloquialism.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.