fowl

1 of 2

noun

ˈfau̇(-ə)l 

plural fowl or fowls

1

: a bird of any kind compare waterfowl, wildfowl

2

a

: a cock or hen of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus)

especially : an adult hen

b

: any of several domesticated (see domesticate entry 1 sense 2) or wild gallinaceous birds compare guinea fowl, jungle fowl

3

: the meat of fowls used as food

roasted fowl

fowl

2 of 2

verb

fowled; fowling; fowls

intransitive verb

: to seek, catch, or kill wildfowl

Examples of fowl in a Sentence

Noun

I spotted a long-legged fowl by the water's edge.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The villagers raised their hands in prayer, asking God to calm the gust for the sake of the bobwhite, the starling, and the fowl. —Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025

Experts and officials have renewed the call for care and caution when being around wild birds and domestic fowl, and in putting out birdfeeders and baths. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025

Bird flu is spreading again, now that wild water fowl — geese, ducks and cranes — have begun their seasonal migrations. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 9 Oct. 2025

Trail-Ride Preparation: Chickens' flapping, squawking and scurrying desensitize horses to the sights and sounds of wild fowl, preparing them for trail rides where turkeys or other birds may appear. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English foul, from Old English fugel; akin to Old High German fogal bird, and probably to Old English flēogan to fly — more at fly

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fowl

• jungle fowl
• neither fish nor fowl

Rhymes for fowl

• foul
• foule
• growl
• howl
• jowl
• owl
• prowl
• scowl
• afoul
• wildfowl
• waterfowl

Kids Definition

fowl

1 of 2 noun

ˈfau̇(ə)l 

plural fowl or fowls

1

: bird entry 1 sense 1: as

a

: a domestic cock or hen

especially : a full-grown hen

b

: any of several domesticated or wild birds related to the common domestic chicken

2

: the meat of fowl used as food

fowl

2 of 2 verb

: to hunt, catch, or kill wildfowl

fowler noun