flamingo

noun

fla·​min·​go flə-ˈmiŋ-(ˌ)gō 

plural flamingos also flamingoes

: any of several large aquatic birds (family Phoenicopteridae) with long legs and neck, webbed feet, a broad lamellate bill resembling that of a duck but abruptly bent downward, and usually rosy-white plumage with scarlet wing coverts and black wing quills

Illustration of flamingo

Examples of flamingo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Either way, be sure to keep an eye out for the reserve’s native animal population, including fish, crabs, turtles, herons, flamingos, foxes, and dugongs, cousins to the North American manatee. —Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026

Flamingo Island Flea Market has 600 vendors selling everything from handmade ceramics to plastic flamingos. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2026

Stretches of salt flats lined its shores, where flamingos perched. —Maya Silver, Outside, 20 Jan. 2026

The wet season from January to March sees the lagoon’s water create awe-inspiring mirror effects and attracts flamingos and other migratory birds, not unlike Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni. —Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 19 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

obsolete Spanish flamengo (now flamenco), literally, Fleming, German (conventionally thought of as ruddy-complexioned)

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for flamingo

• bingo
• dingo
• gringo
• lingo

Kids Definition

flamingo

noun

fla·​min·​go flə-ˈmiŋ-gō 

plural flamingos also flamingoes

: any of several rosy-white birds with scarlet wings, a very long neck and legs, and a broad bill bent down at the end that are often found wading in shallow water

Etymology

from Portuguese flamingo "flamingo," from Spanish flamenco "flamingo," derived from Latin flamma "flame"; so called from the fiery red feathers on the underside of the wings