: a small compact falcon (Falco columbarius) of the northern hemisphere having a broad dark terminal band on the tail and upperparts that are slate blue in males and brown in females
Examples of merlin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
One parent was killed by a merlin, a small falcon that lives throughout the Great Lakes region.
—Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2023
Other Plum Island sightings were highlighted by an unseasonal merlin and a red-necked phalarope.
—BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2023
Researchers from Michigan State University and the University of Minnesota have developed population models to show how controlling merlin and other nest predator populations could reduce the piping plover's risk of extinction, according to the Smithsonian.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 21 Apr. 2023
J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Jan. 2026
Beggars Group and Merlin founder Martin Mills will continue to serve as a director of Merlin Network, the organization’s parent entity, alongside Darius Van Arman, who continues as Merlin chairperson, and Merlin CEO Charlie Lexton.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026
Damion Downs, the USMNT forward formerly of Koln, has been signed on loan from Southampton and will be depended upon to help cure that issue and keep Merlin Polzin’s side out of danger.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
At SpaceX, Mueller became the lead designer for the Merlin, Kestrel, and Draco engines, helping establish the propulsion architecture that still underpins the Falcon 9.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 23 Dec. 2025
The Falcon 9's upper stage was set to deploy the 29 Starlink broadband internet relay satellites (Group 6-82) after about an hour, following a coast period and a second firing of its single Merlin engine.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 15 Dec. 2025
What To Know According to a news release, the Alaskan Command executed simulated joint maritime strikes with Air Force B-52H bombers and the Coast Guard national security cutter USCGC in the Gulf of Alaska on Tuesday as part of Operation Tundra Merlin.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
The aquarium, owned by Merlin Entertainments, first opened its penguin exhibit in May 2011, according to the UK’s PA Media news agency.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Online, 80 percent of Shein’s clients are women, but in store, since its opening on Wednesday, families, couples and friends all shopping together, according to Merlin.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025
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Noun
The Job Management Agent (JMA), meanwhile, handles scheduling and execution across LLNL’s supercomputers, using tools like the Flux scheduler and the Merlin workflow system.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
One parent was killed by a merlin, a small falcon that lives throughout the Great Lakes region.
—Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2023
Other Plum Island sightings were highlighted by an unseasonal merlin and a red-necked phalarope.
—BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2023
Researchers from Michigan State University and the University of Minnesota have developed population models to show how controlling merlin and other nest predator populations could reduce the piping plover's risk of extinction, according to the Smithsonian.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 21 Apr. 2023
Noun
Among those who passed on representing Abrams was the Merlin Law Group, a firm with offices in 12 states, including Oklahoma.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Jan. 2026
Beggars Group and Merlin founder Martin Mills will continue to serve as a director of Merlin Network, the organization’s parent entity, alongside Darius Van Arman, who continues as Merlin chairperson, and Merlin CEO Charlie Lexton.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026
Damion Downs, the USMNT forward formerly of Koln, has been signed on loan from Southampton and will be depended upon to help cure that issue and keep Merlin Polzin’s side out of danger.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
At SpaceX, Mueller became the lead designer for the Merlin, Kestrel, and Draco engines, helping establish the propulsion architecture that still underpins the Falcon 9.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 23 Dec. 2025
The Falcon 9's upper stage was set to deploy the 29 Starlink broadband internet relay satellites (Group 6-82) after about an hour, following a coast period and a second firing of its single Merlin engine.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 15 Dec. 2025
What To Know According to a news release, the Alaskan Command executed simulated joint maritime strikes with Air Force B-52H bombers and the Coast Guard national security cutter USCGC in the Gulf of Alaska on Tuesday as part of Operation Tundra Merlin.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
The aquarium, owned by Merlin Entertainments, first opened its penguin exhibit in May 2011, according to the UK’s PA Media news agency.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Online, 80 percent of Shein’s clients are women, but in store, since its opening on Wednesday, families, couples and friends all shopping together, according to Merlin.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Merlin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merlin. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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