falcon

noun

fal·​con ˈfal-kən  ˈfȯl- 

 also  ˈfȯ-kən

1

: any of various hawks trained for use in falconry

especially : peregrine falcon

—used technically only of a female compare tiercel

2

: any of various hawks (family Falconidae) that have long pointed wings, a long tail, and a notched beak and that usually inhabit open areas

Illustration of falcon

• 1 hood
• 2 jess
• 3 gauntlet

Examples of falcon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Birds of prey, including eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons, circle overhead, while bison gather to compete for mates (around August) or to calve (which usually takes place in April). —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025

Meanwhile, in Souq Waqif, the smell of saffron lingers as beautiful falcons perch beside handwoven textiles. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

In recent years, researchers have created machines imitating the look and movement of bats, coyotes, falcons, rats, guppies, bees, and even cockroaches. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2025

His falcon still circles, but the sky above Gaza offers no axis, no return path, no center to descend toward, only a deepening orbit around an absence no language can fill. —Alaa Alqaisi august 13, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English faucoun, falcon, from Anglo-French faucon, from Late Latin falcon-, falco, probably from Latin falc-, falx

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing falcon

• falcon-gentle
• peregrine falcon

Rhymes for falcon

• alkyne
• malkin

Kids Definition

falcon

noun

fal·​con ˈfal-kən  ˈfȯl- 

 also  ˈfȯ-kən

1

: a hawk trained for use in falconry

2

: any of various swift hawks with long pointed wings, a long tail, and a notch on the upper half of the beak for killing prey