hunchback: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Outdated, potentially offensive medical/literary term; modern preferred terms are clinical or person-first language.
Quick answer
What does “hunchback” mean?
A person whose back is permanently curved or hunched due to abnormal spinal curvature (kyphosis).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person whose back is permanently curved or hunched due to abnormal spinal curvature (kyphosis).
A person or fictional character defined by having a hunched back, often used as a physical archetype in literature and media (e.g., Quasimodo).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties consider the term outdated/offensive.
Connotations
Pejorative, stigmatizing. Associated with historical discrimination and negative stereotypes.
Frequency
Very low frequency in contemporary respectful discourse. Slightly higher in British English in historical/literary discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “hunchback” in a Sentence
The hunchback of [Place/Name]a hunchback with [characteristic]to be a hunchbackVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used cautiously in literary criticism, disability studies, or medical history to discuss historical terminology and representation.
Everyday
Avoided. Considered offensive. Use descriptive, person-first language if relevant.
Technical
Outdated clinical term. Modern medical terminology uses 'kyphosis' or 'hyperkyphosis' to describe the condition.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hunchback”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hunchback”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hunchback”
- Using 'hunchback' to describe temporary bad posture.
- Using the term in modern, non-literary contexts to describe a person, which is offensive.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when used to describe a person in contemporary contexts, it is considered derogatory and dehumanizing. It reduces a person to a single physical characteristic.
Use person-first, descriptive language like 'a person with kyphosis' or 'a person with a spinal curvature'. The clinical term is 'kyphosis'.
Yes, when analyzing a specific literary work (e.g., 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'), it is acceptable to use the term as it appears in the title or text, often with contextual awareness of its historical usage.
'Hunchback' refers specifically to a person. 'Humpback' is primarily used for the whale species. 'Humpback' was also an archaic synonym for 'hunchback' but is now obsolete and equally offensive in that sense.
A person whose back is permanently curved or hunched due to abnormal spinal curvature (kyphosis).
Hunchback is usually outdated, potentially offensive medical/literary term; modern preferred terms are clinical or person-first language. in register.
Hunchback: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌntʃbæk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʌntʃˌbæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HUNCH + BACK: Imagine someone with a HUNCH (bent posture) on their BACK.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEFORMITY AS MONSTROSITY / THE OUTSIDER (in literature: the physically deformed as isolated, tragic, or villainous).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most appropriate modern way to refer to someone with a severe curvature of the spine?