albatross

noun

al·​ba·​tross ˈal-bə-ˌtrȯs How to pronounce albatross (audio)
-ˌträs
plural albatross or albatrosses
1
: any of a family (Diomedeidae) of large web-footed seabirds that have long slender wings, are excellent gliders, and include the largest seabirds
2
a
: something that causes persistent deep concern or anxiety
b
: something that greatly hinders accomplishment : encumbrance
Fame has become an albatross that prevents her from leading a normal life.
3
chiefly British, golf : a score of three under par made on a hole : double eagle
The first play-off at Augusta followed the most famous single stroke in Masters history, Sarazen's albatross, or double eagle as the Americans prefer to describe such accidents of fortune, at the 15th.P. A. Ward-Thomas

Illustration of albatross

Illustration of albatross
  • albatross 1

Did you know?

Why is albatross used to refer to a burden?

The albatross is an exceedingly large seabird, having a wingspan as much as 11 feet across. It is a magnificent glider, capable of staying aloft for hours at a time without flapping its wings, and tends to remain almost entirely at sea, typically coming ashore only to breed.

In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1798 poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the titular mariner kills an albatross that has been following his ship, bringing down a curse that leads to the death of all other crew members. As a punishment, the crew hang the dead bird from the mariner’s neck, and he remains alive to witness the ship’s fate unfold. This potent emblem led to the coining of a metaphorical meaning for albatross as something that causes anxiety or guilt or that burdens and encumbers.

Examples of albatross in a Sentence

Fame has become an albatross that prevents her from leading a normal and happy life. Fame has become an albatross around her neck.
Recent Examples on the Web Bad debt can become an albatross, weighing down your personal balance sheet. Michael Cannivet, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 David Attenborough narrates this visual journey through the Arctic and the Antarctic with intimate looks at exotic species, including Adelie penguins, Arctic wolves, albatrosses, and polar bears. Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2024 The recruiting hype that began as a coronation swiftly became an albatross, Moore’s five-star status generating unattainable expectations, inevitable disappointment and a predictable departure. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2023 Counting albatross annually The wildlife department – along with the Friends of Midway Atoll – have kept track of the elusive seabirds since 1991. Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register, 5 Feb. 2024 Is the ball player leaving money on the table or does the contract become an albatross for the ball club? Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 And, outside the question of that month that is associated with last-minute game-changers, this trial will be a dominant factor all year long, with a guilty verdict — again, presumed to be an albatross around Trump’s neck — the likeliest outcome. Rich Lowry, National Review, 14 Jan. 2024 Take excursions on the hotel's private yacht to see the famous blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Christmas iguanas. Judy Koutsky, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2023 Likewise, Quetzalcoatlus probably wasn’t using a long runway like Orville the albatross in The Rescuers. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'albatross.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

earlier albitrosse, albetrosse "albatross, frigate bird," alteration (with the first syllables probably reshaped after Latin albus "white" and its derivatives) of alcatras, alcatrace "pelican, frigate bird," or of its source, 16th-century Italian alcatrazzo (borrowed from Spanish) or Spanish alcatraz "pelican" or Portuguese alcatraz "brown booby (Sula leucogaster), frigate bird," both borrowed from Arabic al-ġaṭṭās "diver, sea eagle," derivative from the base of the verb ġaṭṭa "to immerse, dip, plunge"; (sense 2) after the albatross in Samuel Taylor coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," which the mariner kills and is then forced to wear around his neck as expiation for his crime; (sense 3) by analogy with birdie entry 1 and eagle entry 1 as names for golfing scores

Note: The reflection of Arabic ġ as c in Spanish rather than g has been explained as through influence of late medieval Spanish alcaduz "bucket of a waterwheel" (later arcaduz), the throat pouch of a pelican suggesting such a bucket.

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of albatross was in 1672

Dictionary Entries Near albatross

Cite this Entry

“Albatross.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/albatross. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

albatross

noun
al·​ba·​tross ˈal-bə-ˌtrȯs How to pronounce albatross (audio)
-ˌträs
plural albatross or albatrosses
: any of various large web-footed seabirds that are related to the petrels and include the largest birds of the sea
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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