horde
American
noun
-
a vast crowd; throng; mob
-
a local group of people in a nomadic society
-
a nomadic group of people, esp an Asiatic group
-
a large moving mass of animals, esp insects
verb
Usage
What’s the difference between horde and hoard? Horde is a noun referring to a large group or mob of people, especially one considered in a negative way, as in I’d rather avoid the hordes of tourists. Hoard is a verb meaning to accumulate things and closely guard them, often in a greedy or excessive way, as in Dragons are known for hoarding treasure. It can also be used as a noun to collectively refer to the things that have been accumulated, as in a hoard of treasure. The word horde is also used in a more specific way to refer to a group of nomads. It is especially associated with the Mongol army of the 1200s (sometimes known as the Golden Horde). Horde can also be a verb, meaning to gather or move in a horde, but this use is much less common. Both words often relate to large groups, but a hoard is an accumulation of items, while a horde is a group of people (or animals). To remember which spelling to use, remember that nomadic hordes sometimes travel on horses. The word hoard, on the other hand, hoards the letter A all for itself. Here’s an example of horde and hoard used correctly in a sentence. Example: A horde of invaders sacked the city and looted the royal treasure hoard. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between hoard and horde.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of horde
First recorded in 1545–55; earlier also hord, horda, ultimately from Czech, Polish horda, from Ukrainian dialect gordá, Ukrainian ordá, Old Russian (originally in the phrase Zolotaya orda “the Golden Horde”), via Mongolian or directly from Turkic ordu, orda “royal residence or camp” (later, “any military encampment, army”); cf. Urdu
Explanation
Use the word horde to describe a large crowd: “A horde of people followed the pop star as he left the airport in Helsinki.” The noun horde is not for the sedate — the word typically is used to describe a group that is in motion, maybe even a little unruly, such as a horde of fans pursuing a film star or a horde of ants invading a picnic. If you are describing a calm, orderly gathering, the word group or crowd may be a better choice. You can save horde for the next time you need to describe, for example, your experience at a pre-Christmas sale (“A horde of holiday shoppers rushed toward the last discounted television set”).
Vocabulary lists containing horde
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Another horde, the Reapers, runs around shirtless to show off their thick black tattoos.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
An armada of monster-pirates, the Kakamora — think coconut-flavored Gremlins — are a hectic horde with nice textures when the camera holds on them for longer than two seconds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
Highlighting the swarming horde was the example filmed by marine biologist Kori Burkhardt—of a shark she dubbed Kamakai—which was 18 feet long and is, presumably, growing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
What’s more intimidating, an 800-pound gorilla or a horde of small ones?
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
With a mighty shout the horde of Cluny the Scourge marched out upon the road to Redwall Abbey.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
“Zone One” is a smart take on the shuffling hordes and pandemic survivors who try to take Manhattan back.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Pricey options to escape airport hordes and hassles are multiplying as affluent travelers seek more comfort and less friction without shelling out for a private jet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
The result sees hordes of onlookers regularly flock to certain parts of the UK coast each year to witness it first-hand during the nighttime hours.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
Whether or not hordes of international fans will take over I-95 on foot to get to the stadium is another question entirely.
From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2026
“What, they didn’t teach you about hordes at your fancy government school?”
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
Like these commodities, data siphoned by tech companies from COVID-19 screening may be the next asset to be horded and exploited.
From Slate ● Mar. 17, 2020
He got it from a fellow inmate, and he horded it under his bed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2015
Outside the walls of Harrenhal, a wolf horded long and loud.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Their chief places of resort, and where, during the inclemency of winter, they horded or housed together, were, Kirk Yetholm, Rothbury, Horncliff, Spittal, and Tweedmouth.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 7 by Various
Their attics were museums where were horded every sort of object against the time when it might be needed.
From Carl and the Cotton Gin by Sara Ware Bassett
Another market force at play is consumer behavior, in this case, hording.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 13, 2023
Cole has refused medical attention and ignored his personal hygiene, hording food and living in a darkened cell with little to no communication with staff or fellow prisoners, his attorneys told the panel.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 27, 2022
That could lead to some destructive outcomes if competing countries start collecting and hording arable land, Lazard said.
From Scientific American ● Mar. 16, 2022
Can you imagine if every rich person was so focused on making the world a better place, instead of either hording their wealth or squandering it on fancy junk and stoking their egos.
From New York Times ● Feb. 19, 2018
I would rather be an automaton in a factory than a paper pusher or a money hording entrepreneur.
From Tokyo to Tijuana: Gabriele Departing America by Steven (Steven David Justin) Sills
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
