house sparrow

noun

: a sparrow (Passer domesticus) native to Eurasia that has been introduced worldwide and is found especially in urban and agricultural areas

called also English sparrow

Examples of house sparrow 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.
Except for grackles, pigeons, house sparrows and other annoyingly social types that adore the company of humans, most birds will be found in green spaces far from the SXSW noise and crowds in or near downtown. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026 The only consolation is that the birds that are shrinking in numbers the fastest are species — such as the European starling, American crow, grackle and house sparrow — that aren’t yet at risk of going extinct, said study lead author Francois Leroy, also an Ohio State ecologist. Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026 If house sparrows seem to take over your birdhouse every year, reduce the size of the entrance hole. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026 If an entrance hole is too large, smaller nesting birds will be vulnerable to predators and invasive species, including house sparrows, larger birds of prey, squirrels, snakes and even cats, which Hamlin says are birds’ top predators. Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for house sparrow

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of house sparrow was in 1653

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Cite this Entry

“House sparrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/house%20sparrow. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

house sparrow

noun
: a sparrow native to Europe and Asia that has been introduced into and now occurs widely in the New World

called also English sparrow

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