: any of various herons that bear long plumes during the breeding season

Illustration of egret

Illustration of egret

Examples of egret in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nesting waterbirds Herons, egrets and pelicans are putting on quite a show in mangroves and tree islands throughout South Florida. Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026 Charles’ spellbinding 1986 concert was made all the more memorable by the large egret that landed in a palm tree next to the stage and began bedding down for the night. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026 Birders will appreciate the abundance of egrets, ibis, and pelicans here too. Pam Leblanc, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026 From inlets covered in neon-green algae, snow-white egrets took flight over ships stacked with thousands of brightly colored containers—imagine a mash-up of Gauguin and Mondrian. John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for egret

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Old Occitan *aigreta, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German heigaro heron

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Egret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/egret. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

egret

noun
: any of various herons that bear long feathers during the breeding season

More from Merriam-Webster on egret

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster