Heinz 57

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Heinz 57

/ˈhaɪnz ˌfɪftiˈsɛvn̩/ UK
/ˈhaɪnz ˌfɪftiˈsɛvən/ US

Rhymes with -ɛvən

Where it comes from

From the “57 Varieties” slogan introduced by the H. J. Heinz Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., in 1896 to advertise the fact that it produced numerous food products. Heinz is derived from the surname of the American entrepreneur Henry John Heinz (1844–1919) who founded the company (borrowed from German Heinz), while 57 was apparently an arbitrary number chosen by Heinz because 5 was his lucky number and 7 his wife’s lucky number; at the time, the company was already selling more than 60 products.

noun Heinz 57s

US, also, attributive, countable, humorous, informal A thing comprising parts from many different sources; a complete mix; a hodgepodge, a mishmash. The next thing to ascertain is how much of the motorcycle you want is there and what condition it is in. Harley-Davidsons have a high degree of parts interchangeability. […] Is the stock 1939 Harley-Davidson you are looking at 100% 1939 or is it 50% 1939 and 50% Heinz-57, or does it only have a moto
Similar: bouillabaisse, bric-a-brac, catch-all, clamjamfrey, cocktail, rummage, salad, anthology, gallery, gatherum, congeries, crazyquilt
US, also, attributive, countable, humorous, informal An animal (chiefly a dog) of mixed breed or uncertain origin; a mongrel, a mutt. There just wasn’t any place on the farm for four more Heinz 57 dogs running around. It made Sammi sad, but she had her hands full with her rabbits.
Similar: bouillabaisse, bric-a-brac, catch-all, clamjamfrey, cocktail, rummage, salad, anthology, gallery, gatherum, congeries, crazyquilt · Opposite: purebred, purebreed
US, also, attributive, countable, derogatory, humorous A person of mixed ethnic or racial ancestry. If I had an ethnic base to identify from, if I was even Irish American, that would have been something formed, if I was a working-class woman, that would have been something formed. But to be a Heinz 57 American, a white, class-confused American, land of the Kleenex type American, is so formless in
Similar: bouillabaisse, bric-a-brac, catch-all, clamjamfrey, cocktail, rummage, salad, anthology, gallery, gatherum, congeries, crazyquilt
US, also, attributive, humorous, informal, uncountable A variety of draw poker in which the five and seven playing cards are wild cards.

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MLA

"Heinz 57." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/heinz%2057. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

Heinz 57. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/heinz%2057

Chicago

"Heinz 57." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/heinz%2057.

BibTeX

@misc{heinz_57_2026,
  title = {Heinz 57},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/heinz%2057},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}