Baltimore oriole

noun

Bal·​ti·​more oriole ˈbȯl-tə-ˌmȯr- How to pronounce Baltimore oriole (audio)
-mər-
: an oriole (Icterus galbula) of the eastern and central U.S. and southern Canada in which the male has a solid black head and the female usually has an olive-brown back and orange-yellow underside and that was formerly considered to be a subspecies of northern oriole

Examples of Baltimore oriole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But no courtship call of great horned owls, no wood thrush or Baltimore oriole. Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 As with grass, only offer roots from plants that have not been treated with fertilizers or pesticides. Milkweed Fibers and Cattail Fluff: American goldfinch, Baltimore orioles, and Eastern kingbirds will line their nests with milkweed silk and cattail fluff. Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2025 Bonnet Carre Spillway in Norco: More than 260 species have been observed in the area, including bald eagles, Baltimore orioles and barn owls. Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024 Orange-and-black Baltimore orioles are at home in that tropical habitat. Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

George Calvert, Lord Baltimore

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Baltimore oriole was in 1784

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Cite this Entry

“Baltimore oriole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Baltimore%20oriole. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

Baltimore oriole

noun
Bal·​ti·​more oriole ˌbȯl-tə-ˌmō(ə)r- How to pronounce Baltimore oriole (audio)
-ˌmȯ(ə)r-,
-mər-
: an oriole of eastern and central parts of the U.S. that is orange below and in the male mostly black above and in the female mostly greenish-brown above

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