ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hereford

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈhɛɹəfɝd// here·ford

n. a famous type of beef cattle that has a red body and a white face. It is also the name of a city in England where these cows first came from.

n. a breed of hardy beef cattle originating in Herefordshire, England, characterized by a red coat and white face. When capitalized, it also refers to the cathedral city and county town of Herefordshire.


SIMPLE

The farmer keeps a small herd of Hereford cattle.

CONTEXTUAL

We spent the afternoon walking through the historic streets of Hereford before visiting the famous cathedral.

COMPLEX

The Hereford breed became globally significant in the nineteenth century due to its ability to thrive in diverse climates, leading to its widespread adoption across the Americas and Australia.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English Hereford, from Old English Hereford, from Old English here (“army”) + ford (“ford”). Compare Herford, North Rhine-Westphalia.

Usage

Often used attributively to describe the breed of cattle; capitalized when referring to the specific city or the breed.

© 2026 English Reference