elephant bird

noun

: any of a group (genus Aepyornis or order Aepyornithiformes) of gigantic flightless ratite birds known only from remains found in Madagascar

Examples of elephant bird 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.
The great auk of the North Atlantic, the moa of New Zealand, the elephant bird of Madagascar, and the Réunion ibis of Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean all perished shortly after the humans entered the picture. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025 Ten-foot-tall elephant birds strutted across Madagascar until a thousand years ago. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2025 But elephant birds, who lived more than 1,200 years ago, were likely the biggest birds to ever exist at over 1,500 pounds. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 20 June 2024 As settlers expanded their footprint into Madagascar, the elephant bird's habitat began to shrink. Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2023 See All Example Sentences for elephant bird

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elephant bird was circa 1889

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elephant bird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant%20bird. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on elephant bird

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!