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

Bird talks with live falcons Several talks with live falcons led by Bob Gordon will be on March 14 at the Heritage of the Americas Museum, on the campus of Cuyamaca College, 2110 Cuyamaca College Drive West. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026

There’s a common arachnid called the orb-weaving spider native to Illinois and other Midwestern states that has the falcon beat. —Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026

Kids’ bikes with stabilisers can be arranged on request, there are opportunities to meet camels, falcons, owls and Spot and Fluff the ponies, and the desert can seem like a big sandy playground to little kids. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026

Goshawks are imposing birds, twice the size of a falcon. —Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026

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