plural chickens
1
a
: the common domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) especially when young
also
: its flesh used as food compare jungle fowl
b
: any of various birds or their young
2
: a young woman
3
a
: coward
b
: any of various contests in which the participants risk personal safety in order to see which one will give up first
4
[short for chickenshit] slang
: petty details
5
slang
: a young or youthful gay man
also
: a boy or young man regarded as an object of sexual interest especially by a man compare chicken hawk sense 3
2
chickened; chickening
ˈchi-kᵊn-iŋ 
ˈchik-niŋ
: to lose one's nerve
—usually used with out
seemed to exhibit courage, manliness, and conviction when others chickened out—
J. R. Seeley
J. R. SeeleyExamples of chicken in a Sentence
Noun
We had chicken for dinner.
It's just a spider, you chicken!
Don't be such a big chicken.
Adjective
too chicken to go through with the stunt
just concentrate on the important duties of the job and forget about the chicken stuff
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2025
Public safety should never be a game of political chicken.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2025
Pickle brine is the key ingredient that adds flavor but also tenderizes the chicken.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
Many of these items are lunch specials, such as the cashew chicken, tossed with mushrooms and green bell peppers and served with a big scoop of fried rice and an egg roll.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
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Noun
The chicken was very tender, the corn sweet, and the whole dish had great flavor.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2025
Public safety should never be a game of political chicken.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2025
Pickle brine is the key ingredient that adds flavor but also tenderizes the chicken.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
Many of these items are lunch specials, such as the cashew chicken, tossed with mushrooms and green bell peppers and served with a big scoop of fried rice and an egg roll.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chicken
Cite this Entry
“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chicken. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chicken
2 of 3 adjectivechicken
3 of 3 verb
chickened; chickening
ˈchik-(ə-)niŋ
: to lose one's courage
—usually used with out
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