cockatoo

noun

cock·​a·​too ˈkä-kə-ˌtü 

plural cockatoos

: any of various large noisy chiefly Australasian crested parrots (family Cacatuidae and especially genus Cacatua)

Illustration of cockatoo

Examples of cockatoo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a clip, the owners of a cockatoo named Charlie showcased the hilarious reality of living with an umbrella cockatoo. —Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025

The 40-year-old cockatoo from Smithfield, Virginia, lost his sight a decade ago after suffering abuse in his early life. —Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025

Never was there a noisier bird than a macaw, but cockatoos can get right up there. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 18 July 2025

This led to residents trying to outsmart the clever birds by putting weights on the lids to prevent the cockatoos from digging through the trash. —New Atlas, 4 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Dutch kaketoe, from Malay kakatua

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cockatoo

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• detinue
• devalue
• donohue

Kids Definition

cockatoo

noun

cock·​a·​too ˈkäk-ə-ˌtü 

plural cockatoos

: any of various large noisy usually showy chiefly Australasian parrots that have a bunch of feathers on the head