pelican

noun

pel·​i·​can ˈpe-li-kən 

: any of a genus (Pelecanus) of large web-footed fish-eating birds with a very large bill and distensible gular pouch

Examples of pelican in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nesting pelicans and cormorants also face threats from toxic cleaning substances. —Letters To The Editor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2026

Getting the pelican-frog duo to perform in unison was a feat of mechanical artistry for the team, not to mention the choreography needed by the puppeteer. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026

An underdeveloped subplot sees Temir befriend Alika (Jaliyah Richards), a self-conscious Nigerian-American girl from his wrestling class, while a contrastingly fanciful one concerns Azik’s capturing of a likewise far-from-home pelican to cheer up the heavily pregnant and bone-weary Zalya. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 May 2026

In this one, two Newark teenagers rub their naked spines together in an effort to cure a bad case of bacne while a wild pelican watches them from the corner of the room. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English pellican, from Late Latin pelecanus, from Greek pelekan

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pelican

• brown pelican
• pelican crossing

Kids Definition

pelican

noun

pel·​i·​can ˈpel-i-kən 

: any of a genus of large web-footed birds with a very large bill having a pouch on the lower part used to scoop in fish for food