Illustration of California condor
California condor
noun
Cal·i·for·nia condor
ˌka-lə-ˈfȯr-nyə- 
: a large nearly extinct vulture (Gymnogyps californianus) found most recently in the mountains of southern California that is related to the condor of South America
Examples of California condor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
California condors, or prey-go-neesh in Yurok, have been spiritually tied to the Yurok Hlkelonah, the 6,500-member tribe's cultural and ecological landscape, since time immemorial.
—
Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Some of the deer meat will go to feed endangered California condors on the mainland, while some carcasses will be left on the land — potential meals for bald eagles and foxes.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The Nez Perce Tribe received a $500,000 grant from the Colossal Foundation to reintroduce California condors to Hells Canyon on the Idaho-Oregon border.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 12 Dec. 2025
It is credited with helping save the bald eagle, California condor and scores more animals and plants from extinction since Republican President Richard Nixon signed it into law.
—NPR, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for California condor
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.
Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Some of the deer meat will go to feed endangered California condors on the mainland, while some carcasses will be left on the land — potential meals for bald eagles and foxes.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The Nez Perce Tribe received a $500,000 grant from the Colossal Foundation to reintroduce California condors to Hells Canyon on the Idaho-Oregon border.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 12 Dec. 2025
It is credited with helping save the bald eagle, California condor and scores more animals and plants from extinction since Republican President Richard Nixon signed it into law.
—NPR, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for California condor
Cite this Entry
“California condor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/California%20condor. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
California condor
noun
Cal·i·for·nia condor
ˌkal-ə-ˌfȯr-nyə-
: a very large nearly extinct vulture of mountainous southern California that is related to the condor of South America
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
