blackbird

1 of 2

noun

black·​bird ˈblak-ˌbərd 

1

: any of various birds of which the males are largely or entirely black: such as

a

: a common thrush (Turdus merula) of Eurasia and northern Africa having an orange bill and eye rim

b

: any of several American oscine birds (family Icteridae)

2

: a Pacific islander kidnapped for use as a plantation laborer

blackbird

2 of 2

verb

blackbirded; blackbirding; blackbirds

intransitive verb

: to engage in the slave trade especially in the South Pacific

Examples of blackbird in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Temperate songbirds, including cardinals, bluebirds, wrens and blackbirds, have two main categories of vocalizations: songs and calls. —Sofia Marie Haley, The Conversation, 27 May 2025

Keep an eye out for the park’s more than 60 bird varieties, like the noisy scrub blackbird or the bright-gold saffron finch. —Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

Open Pine Forests Eufala National Wildlife Refuge One of the most significant environments for wintering rusty blackbirds, Eufala National Wildlife Refuge is also host to an ecosystem of wiregrass and longleaf pines, a keystone tree species native to the Southeastern United States. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2025

That's no blackbird singing in the dead of night The fifth Beatle? —James Mercadante, EW.com, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1836, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing blackbird

• red-winged blackbird

Kids Definition

blackbird

noun

black·​bird

ˈblak-ˌbərd

: any of various birds of which the males are mostly or entirely black: as

a

: a common European thrush

b

: any of several American birds (as a red-winged blackbird) related to the meadowlarks and orioles