dodo

noun

do·​do ˈdō-(ˌ)dō 

plural dodoes or dodos

1

a

: an extinct heavy flightless bird (Raphus cucullatus synonym Didus ineptus of the family Columbidae) of the island of Mauritius that was larger than a turkey and was related to the pigeon

b

: an extinct flightless bird (Raphus solitarius) of the island of Réunion similar to and closely related to the dodo

2

a

: one hopelessly behind the times

b

: a stupid person

Illustration of dodo

• dodo 1a

Synonyms

• fossil
• fogey
• conservative
• veteran
• fogy
• mossback

Examples of dodo in a Sentence

That dodo can't do anything right.

I feel like a complete dodo.

Recent Examples on the Web

And Colossal is also attempting to bring back the dodo, which went extinct more than 300 years ago. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025

Colossal is also making progress on another project, announced in 2023, to bring back the dodo. —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025

Since then, the private company, valued at about $10 billion, according to Bloomberg, has expanded its plans to include the de-extinction of the Australian thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) and the dodo. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025

One criminal marketplace, however, has remained as dead as a dodo for the last nine years, with no activity of any sort observed by dark web threat intelligence analysts. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese doudo, from doudo silly, stupid

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing dodo

• (as) dead as a dodo

Rhymes for dodo

• bodo
• quomodo

Kids Definition

dodo

noun

do·​do ˈdōd-ō 

plural dodoes or dodos

1

: a large heavy flightless extinct bird related to the pigeons and formerly found on some of the islands of the Indian Ocean

2

a

: a person who is hopelessly behind the times

b

: a stupid person

Etymology

from Portuguese doudo, name given by Portuguese sailors to the bird, from doudo (adjective) "silly, stupid"