1
: a member of a nomadic central Asian people gaining control of a large part of central and eastern Europe under Attila about a.d. 450
2
a
often not capitalized : a person who is wantonly destructive : vandal
b
disparaging : german
especially : a German soldier

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English Hunas, plural, from Late Latin Hunni, plural

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Hun was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near Hun

Cite this Entry

“Hun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hun. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Hun

noun
: a member of a warlike central Asian people gaining control of a large part of Europe about a.d. 450

More from Merriam-Webster on Hun

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!