Word
hicks
Phoneticshicks
US/ˈhɪks/
UK/hˈɪks/
Definition
n. people from the countryside who are thought to be uneducated, simple, or lacking social skills.
n. a derogatory plural noun referring to people from rural areas perceived as provincial, uneducated, or socially unsophisticated.
Examples
“He was tired of being treated like one of the local hicks.”
“The city teenagers laughed at the visitors, calling them hicks because of their thick accents and plain clothes.”
“The film relies on tired stereotypes, portraying the residents of the small mountain town as narrow-minded hicks who are suspicious of any outsider.”
Examples
simple
“He was tired of being treated like one of the local hicks.”
contextual
“The city teenagers laughed at the visitors, calling them hicks because of their thick accents and plain clothes.”
complex
“The film relies on tired stereotypes, portraying the residents of the small mountain town as narrow-minded hicks who are suspicious of any outsider.”
Usage
Usually used as a plural noun to insult a group of people.
Teaching tip
This term is often offensive. It reflects a prejudice against rural people and should be used with caution or avoided in polite conversation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hicks