flamingo

noun

fla·​min·​go flə-ˈmiŋ-(ˌ)gō 

plural flamingos also flamingoes

: any of several large aquatic birds (family Phoenicopteridae) with long legs and neck, webbed feet, a broad lamellate bill resembling that of a duck but abruptly bent downward, and usually rosy-white plumage with scarlet wing coverts and black wing quills

Illustration of flamingo

Examples of flamingo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So, Ortega Jiménez and his team took a closer look with the help of three Chilean flamingos at the Nashville Zoo. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025

At a recent race, there was a Toyota Yaris painted to resemble Gary, the pet snail from Spongebob Squarepants, and a Honda Civic topped with items like a lawnmower, squirrels, and flamingos. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 May 2025

These footprints are more commonly found in coastal deposits, suggesting that these creatures waded through shallow waters to catch fish or scoop up floating prey, much like modern-day flamingos. —Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2025

While camels are common across Salalah, seeing flamingoes is not always guaranteed. —Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

obsolete Spanish flamengo (now flamenco), literally, Fleming, German (conventionally thought of as ruddy-complexioned)

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for flamingo

• bingo
• dingo
• gringo
• lingo

Kids Definition

flamingo

noun

fla·​min·​go flə-ˈmiŋ-gō 

plural flamingos also flamingoes

: any of several rosy-white birds with scarlet wings, a very long neck and legs, and a broad bill bent down at the end that are often found wading in shallow water

Etymology

from Portuguese flamingo "flamingo," from Spanish flamenco "flamingo," derived from Latin flamma "flame"; so called from the fiery red feathers on the underside of the wings