plumage

noun

plum·​age ˈplü-mij How to pronounce plumage (audio)
: the feathers of a bird
plumaged adjective

Examples of plumage in a Sentence

The peacock has colorful plumage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The best evidence yet uncovered for plumage on tyrannosaurs was announced eight years later from a different collection of 125-million-year-old fossils described as Yutyrannus. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 July 2025 In fact, the sheer beauty of its plumage almost caused the superb lyrebird, and its smaller cousin, the northern lyrebird, to go extinct around the turn of the 20th century, as its radiant tail feathers were highly valued in the construction of women’s hats (like these). Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025 Adorned with vibrant green plumage tinged with bright streaks of blue, this native animal serves as the sole extant parrot species in all of Puerto Rico—yet just a few decades ago, these striking birds lingered at the very edge of extinction. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 Many species even develop vibrant plumage in preparation for breeding season. Cherri Briggs, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for plumage

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Old French, from plume feather — more at plume

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plumage was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plumage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plumage. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

plumage

noun
plum·​age ˈplü-mij How to pronounce plumage (audio)
: the feathers of a bird

More from Merriam-Webster on plumage

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