hex

¹ American  

[heks] / hɛks /

verb (used with object)

1. to bewitch; practice witchcraft on.

   He was accused of hexing his neighbors' cows because they suddenly stopped giving milk.

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noun

1. spell; charm.

   With all this rain, somebody must have put a hex on our picnic.

2. a witch.

hex ² American  

[heks] / hɛks /

adjective

Informal.

1. hexagonal.

   a bolt with a matching washer and hex nut.

2. hexadecimal.

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hex. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. hexagon

2. hexagonal.

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hex ¹ British  

/ hɛks /

noun

1. 1. short for hexadecimal

   2. ( as modifier )

      hex code

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hex ² British  

/ hɛks /

verb

1. (tr) to bewitch

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noun

1. an evil spell or symbol of bad luck

2. a witch

Other Word Forms

• hexer noun

Etymology

Origin of hex¹

1820–30; < German Hexe witch; hag ¹

Origin of hex²

First recorded in 1920–25; by shortening

Explanation

A hex is a magic spell or charm that's meant to cause harm. A witch in a story, for example, might put a hex on a prince that turns him into a chicken. If you believe in magic, you might either fear hexes or aspire to learn how to put them on your enemies — to hex them. In the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, "hex signs," forms of stars, flowers, and circles, are commonly painted on barns. Though tourists often interpret these as having superstitious meanings, they're really just folk art symbols. The Middle High German root of hex is Hexe, or "witch."

Example Sentences

Can they go on the road and break the hex that Scotland have held over them in recent years?

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Like the store’s sign, the sky glowed Big Orange, hex code #F96302, or Pantone 165 C, available in the paint department inside.

From Slate • Jan. 27, 2026

The Teen’s true identity remains a secret thanks to the sigil hex that prevents others from hearing any identifying information about him, including his real name.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2024

No longer a pristine hex shape, it was now gnarled up and unusable.

From Salon • Dec. 5, 2023

Instead, through clenched teeth, she warned, “Stop talking, or I’m going to hex you to be my toad’s wife.”

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Related Words

• jinx
• whammy