mockingbird

noun

mock·​ing·​bird ˈmä-kiŋ-ˌbərd How to pronounce mockingbird (audio)
ˈmȯ-
: a common grayish North American bird (Mimus polyglottos) related to the thrashers that is remarkable for its exact imitations of the notes of other birds

Examples of mockingbird in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Modern-day birds like the northern mockingbird and the greater roadrunner use their feathers to forage for food. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024 The mockingbird can’t defend all the feeders all the time. Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Among the likely birds in Sacramento: house finch, mourning dove, crow, cedar waxwing, scrub jay, mockingbird, sparrow, goldfinch, junco and woodpecker. Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 Northern mockingbird The northern mockingbird is Florida's state bird. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023 Benay Karp spends $12,000 a month to care for her vast menagerie, which includes raccoons, coyotes, mockingbirds, woodpeckers, squirrels, prairie dogs and two skunks, one of whom is named Stinkerbelle. Maura Judkis, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2023 Northern mockingbird The northern mockingbird is Texas' state bird. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023 On a spring morning in her home near Nashville, Amanda Shires is competing with a mockingbird. Thor Christensen, Dallas News, 30 June 2023 But their efforts have been thwarted, primarily by Marion Hammer, a former lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, who is a fierce defender of the mockingbird because of its singing ability. Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mockingbird was in 1676

Dictionary Entries Near mockingbird

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

mockingbird

noun
mock·​ing·​bird ˈmäk-iŋ-ˌbərd How to pronounce mockingbird (audio)
ˈmȯk-
: a common grayish North American songbird that is closely related to the catbirds and thrashers and is noted for the sweetness of its song and for its imitations of the notes of other birds

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