Hefner

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A surname associated with a notable American entrepreneur and magazine publisher known for founding a famous adult entertainment magazine
2. Referring to a prominent individual in the entertainment industry, particularly known for advocating a lifestyle centered around adult themes
3. Designating a cultural figure famed for creating a brand that combines lifestyle, media, and adult content in a unique manner

Etymology: The word "hefner" is a proper noun turned common noun, named after Hugh Hefner (1926–2017), the American who founded Playboy magazine in Chicago in 1953. Its use as a generic noun for the magazine's founder or for a figure resembling him comes from the surname itself, not from any older English word, so its etymology is simply that of a family name borne by a single well-known man. The surname Hefner is German in origin, a occupational or regional name derived from the Germanic word for a person who worked with or owned a "hufe," a unit of land, with the name passing down through families in German-speaking regions and into America with immigrants. Hugh Hefner's own family name carried this heritage, and it was his prominence that turned it into a word in its own right. Because the term is built entirely on a personal name, it has no older meaning to unfold. Its history is brief: it began as a reference to one man and his magazine, and only later became a common noun used for anyone or anything resembling him.

Synonyms: Hugh Hefner