cygnet

noun

cyg·​net ˈsig-nət How to pronounce cygnet (audio)
: a young swan

Examples of cygnet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web All the young cygnets and adult birds have to be released together as the cygnets will get lost otherwise. Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 19 July 2024 The ball, of course, was Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball at The Plaza Hotel, and the young cygnet was my mother, the actor Candice Bergen. Chloe Malle, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2024 Her four babies, called cygnets, went missing over the weekend. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 31 May 2023 The counters on the River Thames recorded 94 cygnets, as young swans are called, compared to 155 last year. The New York Times Elaine Chen Emily Anthes, New York Times, 18 May 2023 See all Example Sentences for cygnet 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cygnet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sygnett, from Anglo-French cignet, from cigne swan, from Latin cycnus, cygnus, from Greek kyknos

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cygnet was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near cygnet

Cite this Entry

“Cygnet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cygnet. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

cygnet

noun
cyg·​net ˈsig-nət How to pronounce cygnet (audio)
: a young swan

More from Merriam-Webster on cygnet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!