magpie

1 of 2

noun

mag·​pie ˈmag-ˌpī 

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

Illustration of magpie

• magpie 1

magpie

2 of 2

adjective

1

: collected indiscriminately : miscellaneous

magpie compilations of unrelated tidbits

—Helen R. Cross

2

: given to indiscriminate collecting : acquisitive

what possible magpie instinct had impelled me to retain them

—S. J. Perelman

Synonyms

Noun

• babbler
• blabber
• blabbermouth
• blowhard
• cackler
• chatterbox
• chatterer
• conversationalist
• gabbler
• gasbag
• jabberer
• jay
• motormouth
• prattler
• talker
• windbag

Adjective

• assorted
• eclectic
• heterogeneous
• indiscriminate
• kitchen-sink
• miscellaneous
• mixed
• motley
• patchwork
• piebald
• promiscuous
• raggle-taggle
• ragtag
• varied

Examples 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

Noun

Experts suggest that not all magpies are aggressive. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025

Wayne is also a ferocious magpie of information, an endless spinner of theories and weaver of connections, a writer of feverish, private dispatches. —Tom Vanderbilt, Outside Online, 5 June 2025

Adjective

Next Zara always nails its accessory selection, from stylish shoes to statement handbags and jewellery that will satisfy all your magpie cravings. —Ebony-Renee Baker, refinery29.com, 4 Sep. 2024

The aloof downtown intellectual, named Luc by her Belgian parents, is a poetic essayist with a magpie mind and a talent for archive spelunking. —Carl Swanson, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Mag (nickname for Margaret) + pie entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for magpie

• ai
• aye
• bae
• bi
• buy
• by
• bye
• chai
• chi
• cry
• die
• dry

Kids Definition

magpie

noun

mag·​pie

ˈmag-ˌpī

1

: any of various noisy birds related to the jays but having a long tail and black-and-white feathers

2

: a person who chatters constantly