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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
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
Synonyms
Example Sentences
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
Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2023
The toppings, including steak, chicken, beans, rice, salsa and cheese, were plentiful, as was the seating.
—Megan Dubois, Chron, 26 Jan. 2023
Meal options include a selection of chicken, beef, or vegetarian sandwiches that came with an assortment of fruits and chips.
—Kayla Brock, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Jan. 2023
The banquet included Indian Papadum bread with mango, Malabar prawns, Malay chicken, Bengali fish curry, lamb marsala, and custard, saffron kulfi, and juniper berries.
—Margie Goldsmith, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2023
Vegetable oil is essential for frying chicken, sautéing, baking quick breads, and so many other dishes.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2023
Butter chicken, mattar paneer, Amritsari chole and laziz soya chaap curry are among the dishes offered along with a variety of appetizers and desserts.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Jan. 2023
The holiday meal might consist of chicken, two fishes and pork, with tang yuan and fa gao for dessert – or perhaps dim sum with family on the weekend of the new year.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 19 Jan. 2023
In every town, there is a restaurant whose specialty is burgers, chicken, pizza, tacos, sandwiches.
—Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 17 Jan. 2023
Vulture, 24 June 2022
Chicken of the wood (or COW) is named after its shockingly chicken breast-like texture.
—Tree Meinch, Discover Magazine, 23 July 2020
But the pro-chicken side says the fowl make less noise than crying children and barking dogs.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 30 Nov. 2022
Though food prices climbed just 1.1% overall from April to May, several products rose sharply: Eggs rose 5%, raw non-chicken poultry rose 4.4% and cookies rose 4%.
—Derek Saul, Forbes, 10 June 2022
And then the Congress and the Postal Administration were just too chicken to do it.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2020
Maria cut chicken thighs shoulder to shoulder with co-workers who coughed and ran fevers.
—USA Today, 22 May 2020
Popcorn and chicken wing stands were open, though fewer than on a normal day.
—Bloomberg.com, 10 May 2020
And thus, our long, arduous, chicken parm journey began.
—Molly Baz, Bon Appétit, 1 May 2020
Jennifer Walter, Discover Magazine, 19 Jan. 2022
Brown chicken a little on both sides, just enough to give thighs some color.
—Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 11 Nov. 2022
The first three ingredients are chicken, turkey liver, and ground bone.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2022
Run by farmer Heather Sedlacek and chef Connor Dore, the ever-changing $85 tasting menu shows off the very best of Jersey’s largesse, from local artichokes to Cape May scallops and chicken, raised by Sedlacek herself at nearby Bayleaf Farm.
—Regan Stephens, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 June 2022
Nurzan brought homemade dishes of curry shrimp and chicken in a masala sauce to share with her hosts.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 23 Nov. 2022
The East Bay’s restaurant openings had plenty of variety in October, with pan-African cooking, modern sushi hand rolls, New York-style bagels and Hong Kong chicken among the many flavors now closer to diners.
—Mario Cortez, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Nov. 2022
This branch is larger than the Newbury Street version, with a patio and more menu items, including chicken Milanese, veal scallopine, branzino, and cioppino, plus pastas and pizza.
—Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 2 June 2022
Sticker shock over basics from eggs to chicken to biscuits has ignited similar debate in other households.
—Veronica Dagher, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022
See More
Noun
There are also tenderloin, chicken, snapper and sirloin platters.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2023
The toppings, including steak, chicken, beans, rice, salsa and cheese, were plentiful, as was the seating.
—Megan Dubois, Chron, 26 Jan. 2023
Meal options include a selection of chicken, beef, or vegetarian sandwiches that came with an assortment of fruits and chips.
—Kayla Brock, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Jan. 2023
The banquet included Indian Papadum bread with mango, Malabar prawns, Malay chicken, Bengali fish curry, lamb marsala, and custard, saffron kulfi, and juniper berries.
—Margie Goldsmith, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2023
Vegetable oil is essential for frying chicken, sautéing, baking quick breads, and so many other dishes.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2023
Butter chicken, mattar paneer, Amritsari chole and laziz soya chaap curry are among the dishes offered along with a variety of appetizers and desserts.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Jan. 2023
The holiday meal might consist of chicken, two fishes and pork, with tang yuan and fa gao for dessert – or perhaps dim sum with family on the weekend of the new year.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 19 Jan. 2023
In every town, there is a restaurant whose specialty is burgers, chicken, pizza, tacos, sandwiches.
—Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 17 Jan. 2023
Adjective
The spicy-chicken sandwich is also a fairly recent edition, a veteran of the Chicken Sandwich Wars.
—Vulture, 24 June 2022
Chicken of the wood (or COW) is named after its shockingly chicken breast-like texture.
—Tree Meinch, Discover Magazine, 23 July 2020
But the pro-chicken side says the fowl make less noise than crying children and barking dogs.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 30 Nov. 2022
Though food prices climbed just 1.1% overall from April to May, several products rose sharply: Eggs rose 5%, raw non-chicken poultry rose 4.4% and cookies rose 4%.
—Derek Saul, Forbes, 10 June 2022
And then the Congress and the Postal Administration were just too chicken to do it.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2020
Maria cut chicken thighs shoulder to shoulder with co-workers who coughed and ran fevers.
—USA Today, 22 May 2020
Popcorn and chicken wing stands were open, though fewer than on a normal day.
—Bloomberg.com, 10 May 2020
And thus, our long, arduous, chicken parm journey began.
—Molly Baz, Bon Appétit, 1 May 2020
Verb
When adding onions to chicken noodle soup, for example, add them toward the end to maintain as many nutrients as possible.
—Jennifer Walter, Discover Magazine, 19 Jan. 2022
Brown chicken a little on both sides, just enough to give thighs some color.
—Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 11 Nov. 2022
The first three ingredients are chicken, turkey liver, and ground bone.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2022
Run by farmer Heather Sedlacek and chef Connor Dore, the ever-changing $85 tasting menu shows off the very best of Jersey’s largesse, from local artichokes to Cape May scallops and chicken, raised by Sedlacek herself at nearby Bayleaf Farm.
—Regan Stephens, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 June 2022
Nurzan brought homemade dishes of curry shrimp and chicken in a masala sauce to share with her hosts.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 23 Nov. 2022
The East Bay’s restaurant openings had plenty of variety in October, with pan-African cooking, modern sushi hand rolls, New York-style bagels and Hong Kong chicken among the many flavors now closer to diners.
—Mario Cortez, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Nov. 2022
This branch is larger than the Newbury Street version, with a patio and more menu items, including chicken Milanese, veal scallopine, branzino, and cioppino, plus pastas and pizza.
—Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 2 June 2022
Sticker shock over basics from eggs to chicken to biscuits has ignited similar debate in other households.
—Veronica Dagher, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chicken.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English chiken, from Old English cicen young chicken; akin to Old English cocc cock
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1943, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of chicken was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing chicken
Dictionary Entries Near chicken
Cite this Entry
“Chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chicken. Accessed 1 Feb. 2023.
Kids Definition
chicken
2 of 3 adjectivechicken
3 of 3 verb
chickened; chickening
ˈchik-(ə-)niŋ 
: to lose one's courage
—usually used with out
More from Merriam-Webster on chicken
Nglish: Translation of chicken for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of chicken for Arabic Speakers
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