Hillbilly is a term for people who live in rural, mountainous areas of the American South, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains. The word originally described families living in remote hill country who had their own distinct culture, music, and way of speaking. Bluegrass music, for example, grew out of musical traditions from these mountain communities.

The word has a complicated history. Sometimes people from Appalachia use it proudly to describe their heritage and mountain roots. But it can also be used as an insult, suggesting someone is uneducated or backward just because they live in a rural area. This unfair stereotype ignores the rich traditions, strong communities, and resourcefulness of mountain families.

In movies or TV shows, the word is often used to show a stereotype of rural people. Many people from Appalachian communities have contributed enormously to American music, literature, and culture. The stereotype of the ignorant hillbilly says more about the prejudices of people who look down on rural communities than it does about the people living there.

Because the term can be insulting, it is usually better to simply say someone is from Appalachia or from a rural mountain community, unless you know a person or group uses the word for themselves.