Standard Lemma guide

Hoosier

adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈhuːʒə/
  • Received-Pronunciation: [ˈhʊu̯ʒə]
  • General-American: /ˈhuʒɚ/
  • General-American: [ˈhʊu̯ʒɚ] ~ [ˈhʊu̯ʒɹ̩]
  • rhymes with -uːʒə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: HH UW1 ZH ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Characteristic of or pertaining to the American state of Indiana.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A native or resident of the U.S. state of Indiana.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Indianan

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Someone associated with Indiana University, for example as a student, alum, or sports team member, or as a fan. This is also the university's sports mascot.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An uneducated, tasteless, boorish white person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

Qualifier: St. Louis; Missouri; formerly Southern US; St. Louis; Missouri; formerly Southern US

Examples

  • Near-synonym: (Canada) hoser

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: white trash, hoser

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A kind of cupboard or dresser with shelves, drawers, etc.; a kitchenet.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

Alternative form of Hoosier.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

a native or resident of Indiana

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Indianan

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: American

History

Etymology

Uncertain. See Wikipedia's article on the subject for theories. Popularized by the 1830 John Finley poem “The Hoosier’s Nest”.