What does chick mean?
A chick is a newly hatched or very young bird, most commonly a young domestic chicken — the small, downy, often yellow creature that emerges from an egg and remains dependent on its mother hen for warmth and protection. In agriculture and everyday speech the word is firmly associated with poultry farming and springtime imagery. Beyond this literal sense, "chick" developed an informal meaning in early twentieth-century American slang: a young woman. This figurative use spread widely through popular culture but is now frequently viewed as patronising or sexist, though some feminist movements of the 1970s deliberately reclaimed the term. Care should be taken not to confuse the word with "chic," an adjective borrowed from French that means stylish or fashionable — a common mix-up in writing. Whether describing a barnyard hatchling or appearing in cultural commentary about language and gender, "chick" is a compact word whose two meanings sit far apart in register and connotation.
A newly hatched or very young bird, especially a young chicken.
"The chicks followed their mother across the yard."
Standard and neutral usage.
Informal term for a young woman, now often perceived as dated or sexist.
"The film's dialogue was full of casual references to "chicks.""
Use caution: many consider this sense demeaning.
Regular plural; applies to both the animal sense and the informal sense for a young woman.
"The incubator held a dozen healthy chicks."
"Chick" didn't start as slang for a woman at all — it hatched in the early twentieth century from the image of a newly-hatched bird, before later being reclaimed by some feminists in the 1960s and 70s.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chick
The noun "chick" arose in Middle English as a shortened form of "chicken," with which it shares the Old English root "cicen." It originally denoted the young of any bird before becoming especially associated with chickens. The informal sense referring to a young woman emerged in American slang in the early twentieth century, drawing on the image of a young bird.
Related word forms
How chick is actually used
The literal sense (a young bird) is neutral and standard. The informal sense for a young woman originated in American slang in the early twentieth century and peaked mid-century; it is now widely considered dated and demeaning by many speakers, though it persists in casual speech and has been partially reclaimed by some feminist writers.
Easily confused with chick
"Chic" is an adjective meaning stylish or elegant (from French), while "chick" is a noun for a young bird or, informally, a young woman.