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

Earlier this month, Sacramento-Yolo officials also confirmed a West Nile virus-positive Brewer’s blackbird in Woodland, the first infected bird detected in that county this season. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026

The blackbird really chortles away. — Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026

Bye bye, blackbird The bartender materialized from the shadows and poured a little whiskey in a glass. — Rick Bragg, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026

One of the more interesting sections involves blackbirds and a work of Beethoven. — Richard Horan, Christian Science Monitor, 25 Sep. 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