Illustration of cockatoo
cockatoo
noun
cock·a·too
ˈkä-kə-ˌtü 
plural cockatoos
: any of various large noisy chiefly Australasian crested parrots (family Cacatuidae and especially genus Cacatua)
Examples of cockatoo in a Sentence
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Never was there a noisier bird than a macaw, but cockatoos can get right up there.
—
Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 18 July 2025
This led to residents trying to outsmart the clever birds by putting weights on the lids to prevent the cockatoos from digging through the trash.
—New Atlas, 4 June 2025
Looking skyward, birdwatchers can spot cockatoos and conures clinging to the surrounding trees, while the ground plays host to a wide range of creatures spanning from flamingos to the golden pheasant, a dazzling bird that’s native to East Asia.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Interestingly, the team’s previous study on the garbage bin-opening cockatoos indicated a nearly identical success rate in their marked birds.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 June 2025
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Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 18 July 2025
This led to residents trying to outsmart the clever birds by putting weights on the lids to prevent the cockatoos from digging through the trash.
—New Atlas, 4 June 2025
Looking skyward, birdwatchers can spot cockatoos and conures clinging to the surrounding trees, while the ground plays host to a wide range of creatures spanning from flamingos to the golden pheasant, a dazzling bird that’s native to East Asia.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Interestingly, the team’s previous study on the garbage bin-opening cockatoos indicated a nearly identical success rate in their marked birds.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cockatoo
Cite this Entry
“Cockatoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cockatoo. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cockatoo
noun
cock·a·too
ˈkäk-ə-ˌtü
plural cockatoos
: any of various large noisy usually showy chiefly Australasian parrots that have a bunch of feathers on the head
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