Illustration of loon
plural loons
: any of several large birds (genus Gavia of the family Gaviidae) of Holarctic regions that feed on fish by diving and have their legs placed far back under the body for optimal locomotion underwater
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There are a number of theories about the origin of loon as it refers to a crazy person, its most common current meaning. One is that it comes from loony, meaning "crazy." But based on currently available evidence, loony is a late 19th-century alteration of lunatic that didn't come into use until decades after the meaning of loon in question. (It's still possible that loony influenced the development and spread of this meaning of loon.) Another guess is that this loon is from the avian loon, inspired either by the bird's maniacal cry or its displays to distract predators, such as skittering over water with its neck crooked. This is certainly possible, and is the origin story favored by some. But the story our dictionaries favor is a bit more quotidian: the current use of loon developed from earlier uses, primarily in Scottish and other northern dialects of British English, of loon to refer to a lout (an awkward, brutish person) or idler (someone who is idle, lazy, or inactive). While that loon, which is from Middle English loun, never spread to British English more broadly, immigrants from the regions where it was used had a significant influence on American English, and it's not far-fetched to posit that their loon developed into the distinctly American use of the word to refer to daffy people.
Examples of loon in a Sentence
Noun (1)
giggled like a loon at his own jokes
the loons at the grocery store had put the potato chips at the bottom of the bag
Recent Examples on the Web
Trish Deitch, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025
Scientists say loon numbers are declining in the Midwest.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
Grebes have been on Earth likely as long as loons have.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
Other than a new playground and loon sculpture, the surrounding lots have been mostly empty since then.
—Kyle Stokes, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loon
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Noun
Bradley Whitford is risking his livelihood — and now with all the MAGA loons on the loose, his safety — to do the right thing.
—Trish Deitch, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025
Scientists say loon numbers are declining in the Midwest.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
Grebes have been on Earth likely as long as loons have.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
Other than a new playground and loon sculpture, the surrounding lots have been mostly empty since then.
—Kyle Stokes, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loon
Cite this Entry
“Loon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loon. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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