# Hereford

/ˈhɛɹəfɝd/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

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

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The farmer keeps a small herd of Hereford cattle.
- We spent the afternoon walking through the historic streets of Hereford before visiting the famous cathedral.
- 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.

## Usage notes

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

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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.