hag
LowInformal, Derogatory, Literary
Definition
Meaning
An ugly, old, and often malicious woman.
A witch or sorceress, especially in folklore; or an aggressive, unpleasant woman. Can also refer to a frightening supernatural being.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly negative and pejorative when applied to a woman. Neutral only in mythological contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both share core meaning. 'Hag-ridden' (haunted by nightmares) is more archaic in both.
Connotations
Equally negative and insulting.
Frequency
Rare in modern polite conversation in both varieties; more common in fantasy literature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
She is a [adjective] hag.The children were frightened of the hag.He called her a hag.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hag-ridden (archaic: tormented by nightmares)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Avoided; highly unprofessional.
Academic
Used in literary or folklore studies.
Everyday
Highly offensive insult; best avoided.
Technical
No common technical usage.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The tyre was completely hagged after the long, rough journey.
- He spent the night haggling, or hagging, over the price.
American English
- The old truck's tires were hagged from the desert heat.
- She felt hagged out after the marathon meetings.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard; 'hag-ridden' is adjectival) He had a hag-ridden look about him.
- She gave him a hag-like stare.
American English
- (Not standard) His face was haggard, not hag. Avoid 'hag' as adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The story had a scary hag in the woods.
- In the fairy tale, the hero had to outsmart the old hag to get the magic item.
- He was criticised for his misogynistic remark, calling his opponent a hag.
- The playwright used the figure of the hag not as a villain, but as a symbol of society's fear of aged female power.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'HAG' as 'Harsh And Grim' describing the character.
Conceptual Metaphor
WICKEDNESS IS UGLINESS / OLD AGE IS DECAY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'ведьма' (witch), which is more neutral/fantasy. 'Hag' is almost always an insult.
- Not equivalent to 'баба' or 'старуха', which are more neutral descriptors.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a playful or neutral term (it is always offensive).
- Confusing it with 'bag' (as in 'old bag', which is also derogatory but less specific).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'hag' LEAST offensive?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost always a derogatory term for a woman, implying ugliness, age, and malice.
A 'witch' can be neutral (practitioner of Wicca) or fantastical. A 'hag' strongly emphasizes repulsive appearance and malevolence, and is primarily an insult.
Extremely rarely and non-standardly. It is a strongly gendered insult for women.
It is a serious insult with strong misogynistic connotations, though not typically classified among the strongest swear words. Its offensiveness lies in its demeaning nature.