Illustration of magpie
- magpie 1
1
: any of various birds (especially Pica pica) related to the jays but having a long graduated tail and black-and-white or brightly colored plumage
2
: a person who chatters noisily
3
: one who collects indiscriminately
1
: collected indiscriminately : miscellaneous
… magpie compilations of unrelated tidbits …—
Helen R. Cross
Helen R. Cross2
: given to indiscriminate collecting : acquisitive
… what possible magpie instinct had impelled me to retain them …—S. J. Perelman
S. J. PerelmanExamples of magpie in a Sentence
Noun
media magpies will no doubt seize upon the president's latest gaffe and blow it all out of proportion
Adjective
a pack rat whose cramped apartment is filled with a magpie collection of books, old newspapers, and tchotchkes
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Mornings start at Plume, which takes its inspiration from Taiwan’s national bird, the blue magpie (taking pride of place on a floor-to-ceiling mural by French artist Elsa Jeandedieu).
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
This mix-and-match approach played right into his own magpie sensibilities.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magpie
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Noun
So now here’s Martha just seeing single magpies all over the place.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Mornings start at Plume, which takes its inspiration from Taiwan’s national bird, the blue magpie (taking pride of place on a floor-to-ceiling mural by French artist Elsa Jeandedieu).
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The chain-mail that has become synonymous with the brand also popped up, but was used in a more magpie way, paired with clashing chunky knits.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
This mix-and-match approach played right into his own magpie sensibilities.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magpie
Cite this Entry
“Magpie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magpie. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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