macaw

noun

ma·​caw mə-ˈkȯ 

: any of numerous parrots (especially genus Ara) of South and Central America including some of the largest and showiest of parrots

Illustration of macaw

Examples of macaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On a wallpaper image of a scarlet macaw, for example, the bird's red feathers bled into the white of its face, while the leafy green background looked grayish and indistinct. — Marshall Honorof, PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026

And the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived there from 900 to 1150 CE used their trade connections with Mexico and Central America to import everything from scarlet macaws to cacao. — ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026

In this biodiverse national park, home to some of Central America’s only remaining old-growth wet forests, wildlife sightings can include the Baird’s tapir, jaguars, sloths, and macaws. — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026

All of us were hoping to set eyes on the variety of creatures promised—everything from scarlet macaws to howler monkeys. — Heather Greenwood Davis, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese (now obsolete) macao

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for macaw

• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw
• byelaw
• bylaw
• chainsaw
• cheraw
• coleslaw
• crenshaw
• dada
• esau

Kids Definition

macaw

noun

ma·​caw mə-ˈkȯ 

: any of numerous parrots of South and Central America that have a long tail, a harsh voice, and bright feathers