Hillbilly: meaning, definitions and examples

Refers to someone from a remote, rural area, usually in the Appalachian Mountains. This term can sometimes be seen as offensive or stereotyping.

• The old hillbilly knew every path in the mountains.
• She sang songs that her hillbilly grandparents taught her.

A term that originally referred to working-class whites in the Southern United States, it now sometimes carries a negative connotation and can imply racial or social intolerance.

• He proudly identified as a redneck, valuing his rural roots and hard-working background.
• Some people criticized the party for its redneck attitudes.

Describes someone from the countryside who might be seen as unsophisticated or naive. This term has a slightly negative connotation.

• They looked at him like he was a country bumpkin for not knowing how to use the metro.
• City folks often regard him as a country bumpkin because of his simple lifestyle.

Typically denotes someone from a sparsely populated forested area. It suggests self-reliance and a deep familiarity with nature.

• The backwoodsman could navigate through the dense forest without a map.
• He learned the ways of the backwoodsman from his father.

Used to describe someone from a rural or remote area, often the Appalachian Mountains, without implying extreme derogation.

• He's just a hillbilly trying to make his way in the big city.
• The movie depicts a family of hillbillies living in the mountains.

Often used to describe white, rural working-class individuals, sometimes connoting toughness or ruggedness but often seen as derogatory. It can be reclaimed by those it describes as a point of pride.

• He's proud to be a redneck, and he won't change for anyone.
• The festival had a lot of redneck culture on display.

Used to describe someone from a small town or rural area, implying a lack of sophistication or education. It can be pejorative or playfully teasing depending on the context.

• Don't be such a hick; there's more to the world than just our small town.
• She's a city girl, but she married a hick from the countryside.

A highly derogatory term used to describe poor white people, implying not only poverty but also a lack of class and moral integrity. Generally considered very offensive and should be avoided.

• The term 'white trash' is rude and offensive. It shouldn't be used.
• She was unfairly labeled as 'white trash' by her peers.