# horned

/ˈhɔɹnd/ (US) · /hˈɔːnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/horned
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. having horns

adjective · CEFR B2

having horns on the head.

For teachers: possessing horns or horn-like anatomical structures.

- The horned owl sat quietly in the tree watching for mice.
- The museum displayed several horned skulls from ancient cattle breeds that are now extinct in the region.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

### 2. cuckolded

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old-fashioned way to describe a man whose wife has been unfaithful.

For teachers: referring to a man whose wife has committed adultery; historically symbolised by horns growing from the forehead.

- In the old play, the character was mocked as a horned husband.
- Shakespearean comedy frequently employs the trope of the horned man to elicit laughter from the contemporary audience regarding marital infidelity.

Teaching tip: This sense is strictly historical and literary; do not use it in modern conversation as it will not be understood or may seem offensive.

## Examples

- The horned owl sat quietly on the branch.
- Farmers often prefer certain breeds of cattle that are not horned to make them easier to manage in small spaces.
- The ancient stone carving depicted a horned deity, a common motif in the region's mythology that symbolized both fertility and the untamed power of the wilderness.

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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.