chicken

play

noun chick·en \ ˈchi-kᵊn , sometimes -kᵊŋ \

Definition of chicken

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

[short for chickenshit]

slang :petty details

5 slang :a young male homosexual

See chicken defined for English-language learners

See chicken defined for kids

Examples of chicken in a Sentence

We had chicken for dinner.
It's just a spider, you chicken!
Don't be such a big chicken.

Recent Examples of chicken from the Web

Hanu Korean Grill, featuring bulgogi, teriyaki chicken and dishes such as pork kimchi or tofu stews, is a remaking of the former HoYa.

— bud kennedy, star-telegram, "Casanova’s passion rules the Kimbell, but the Buffet knows the way to our heart," 26 Aug. 2017
Cook for about 5 minutes, until the onion has softened, then add the chicken parts.

— Philly.com, "Annie's Chicken Chayote Soup (Tinola)," 24 Aug. 2017
The lovable stop-motion Wes Anderson flick gathers a crowd of notable voice actors (Meryl Streep ?, George Clooney, and Bill Murray all in the mix) in a tale of a chicken-stealing fox who finally gets caught on a farm raid.

— lori keong, Marie Claire, "8 Non-Corny Thanksgiving Movies to Cue Up This Year," 17 Aug. 2017
Rose grows field corn, which is used for chicken, pig and cattle feed.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Harford farmers expect good corn yields, but prices could be better," 15 Aug. 2017
Javier Fernandez Jr., the owner of Café Cubano, said the food most people were purchasing at his stand were Cuban sandwiches, empanadas and chicken kabobs.

— maryann pisano, chicagotribune.com, "Taste of the town: Elmwood Park festival enjoys 'incredible weekend'," 14 Aug. 2017
The cost for the lunch including Maryland crab soup, barbeque chicken legs and thighs, coleslaw, corn-on-the-cob, macaroni salad, watermelon and corn muffin is $5.50.

— Howard County Times, "Howard County Fair offers a mix of old and new events [Lisbon/Woodbine]," 3 Aug. 2017
What’s more, all calories don’t interact in your body the same way: 200 calories of potato chips is clearly not the same as 200 calories of chicken breast, in terms of nutritional value and satiety.

— stephanie lee, The Cut, "The Problems With the Advice to ‘Eat Less, Move More’," 25 July 2017
Aug. 20 Lions Club annual steak and chicken grill The Munster Lions Club will host its annual Steak and Chicken Grill from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 20 at Centennial Park Clubhouse, 1005 S. Centennial Drive, Munster.

— Post-Tribune, "Community calendar," 21 July 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of chicken

Middle English chiken, from Old English cicen young chicken; akin to Old English cocc cock

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

chicken Synonyms

Synonyms

coward, craven, cur, dastard, funk, poltroon, recreant, sissy

Antonyms

hero, stalwart, valiant

Related Words

defeatist, quitter; cream puff, milquetoast, pushover, pussy [slang], weakling, wimp; caitiff, snake, sneak; ostrich, scaramouch (or scaramouche)

Near Antonyms

daredevil

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

chicken

adjective

Definition of chicken

1 a :scared

b :timid, cowardly

2 slang

a :insistent on petty details of duty or discipline

b :petty, unimportant

See chicken defined for English-language learners

Examples of chicken in a Sentence

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 of chicken from the Web

No, thanks, just boiled chicken breast and steamed vegetables please.

— stephanie lee, GQ, "The Psychological Reason You Don't Feel Like You're Losing Weight," 28 Aug. 2017
Season chicken thighs with kosher salt and black pepper.

— marian cooper cairns, Country Living, "Crispy Chicken with Roasted Carrots and Couscous," 9 Aug. 2017
But one of Saturday's highlights will be a chicken wing cook off at 4 p.m., which Carter said was introduced by Alsberry.

— gerald porter jr., Daily Southtown, "Hazelnut Fest expands to three days," 28 July 2017
Fleck didn't specify how many chicken fingers Tressel typically consumed from the fast food chicken restaurant near campus, nor whether Tressel ate coleslaw or passed in favor of extra fries.

— doug lesmerises, cleveland.com, "Why Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck used to get Jim Tressel chicken every day," 25 July 2017
Snack Organic coconut crusted chicken fingers: 4 oz. organic free-range boneless skinless chicken fingers and 2 oz.

— natalie stone, SI.com, "What NFL running back and DWTS champ Rashad Jennings eats in a day," 13 July 2017
Snack Organic coconut crusted chicken fingers: 4 oz. organic free-range boneless skinless chicken fingers and 2 oz.

— natalie stone, PEOPLE.com, "What I Eat In A Day," 12 July 2017
Signature hot selections include chicken breast medallions and grilled salmon fillet, among others.

— maurice alcala, Orange County Register, "Taking Mom out for Mother’s Day? Here are some Orange County brunch options," 10 May 2017
One of the issues was how to handle the logistics of issuing permits for chicken coops, in particular in subdivisions where homeowner associations have rules and regulations that prohibit chicken coops.

— linda girardi, Aurora Beacon-News, "Oswego moving slowly on backyard chickens," 4 May 2017

First Known Use of chicken

1889

chicken Synonyms

chicken

verb

Definition of chicken

chickened; chickening play \ˈchi-kᵊn-iŋ, ˈchik-niŋ\

intransitive verb

:to lose one's nerve —usually used with out

seemed to exhibit courage, manliness, and conviction when others chickened out
—J. R. Seeley

See chicken defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of chicken from the Web

Workers installed a picturesque row of palm trees and a thin screen of wire mesh — similar to chicken wire — along the section of median to physically bar pedestrians from crossing mid-block.

— brittany wallman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Trees and bushes used to deter jaywalkers in Lauderhill," 13 July 2017
Only a block away, someone had started another rotisserie chicken war.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink in New York City," 30 June 2017
Saute 3 minutes, stirring to help chicken brown on all sides.

— linda gassenheimer, Twin Cities, "Popular Caribbean sandwich gives a taste of Jamaica," 5 June 2017
Meso Maya was on point from the first day this week, at least based on a simple dinner of Yucatán-style sopa de lima (chicken tortilla soup with lime), mole poblano enchiladas and blueberry cake with vanilla ice cream.

— bud kennedy, star-telegram, "A new Enchiladas Olé with a sunset view," 3 May 2017
Chicken soup may soothe the soul, but chicken-and-rice soup with onion and jalapeño cures your everything-sucks-where-is-my-pint-of-ice-cream mindset as well.

— carey polis, Bon Appetit, "My 7 Favorite Healthyish Soups Because I'm Very Into Soup," 7 Apr. 2017
Someone told the ultimate cautionary tale, about a boy who had chickened out of trying on what turned out to be a lucky night.

— adam davidson, The New Yorker, "Europe’s Child-Refugee Crisis," 27 Feb. 2017

First Known Use of chicken

1943

CHICKEN Defined for English Language Learners

chicken

play

noun

Definition of chicken for English Language Learners

: a bird that is raised by people for its eggs and meat
: the meat of the chicken used as food
: a person who is afraid

chicken

adjective

Definition of chicken for English Language Learners

: too afraid to do something

CHICKEN Defined for Kids

chicken

play

noun chick·en \ ˈchi-kən \

Definition of chicken for Students

1 :a bird that is commonly raised by people for its eggs and meat :a hen or rooster

2 :the meat of a chicken used as food

3 :coward

chicken

adjective

Definition of chicken for Students

:cowardly 1

He's too chicken to go on the rollercoaster.

Learn More about chicken

See words that rhyme with chicken Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chicken Spanish Central: Translation of chicken Nglish: Translation of chicken for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of chicken for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up chicken? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

chicken

Definition of chicken

Read the Latest from M-W

Examples of chicken in a Sentence

Recent Examples of chicken from the Web

Origin and Etymology of chicken

chicken Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Birds Terms

chicken

Definition of chicken

Examples of chicken in a Sentence

Recent Examples of chicken from the Web

First Known Use of chicken

chicken Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

chicken

Definition of chicken

Recent Examples of chicken from the Web

First Known Use of chicken

Phrases Related to CHICKEN

Related Phrases

CHICKEN Defined for English Language Learners

chicken

Definition of chicken for English Language Learners

chicken

Definition of chicken for English Language Learners

CHICKEN Defined for Kids

chicken

Definition of chicken for Students

chicken

Definition of chicken for Students

Learn More about chicken

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

What's Going On With 'Nonplussed'?

9 Slang Words With Academic Origins

Trending: 'Bodega' Startup Draws Criticism, Mockery

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Words of the Year: 1066