mallard

noun

mal·​lard ˈma-lərd 

plural mallard or mallards

: a common and widely distributed wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos) of the northern hemisphere the males of which have a green head and white-ringed neck and which is the source of the domestic ducks

Illustration of mallard

Examples of mallard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, after banking as neatly as a flight of fighter planes, the flock of 20 mallards splashed down just out of range of our shotguns. — Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026

Over time, the pond filled with bass and bluegill and became a magnet for wildlife — blue herons, cranes, geese, mallards, and the kind of nighttime soundtrack that makes the place feel far removed from suburbia. — David Caraccio may 23, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2026

The groom wore a bespoke mallard green suit and ornate bolo tie for the ceremony, per Vogue, while the bride rocked some 5-inch Louboutin heels under her Oscar de la Renta gown. — Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026

Earlier in 2026, a female mallard duck arrived at the courtyard of Prairie Trail School in Gurnee, Illinois, to lay and hatch her eggs. — Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French mallart

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mallard

noun

mal·​lard ˈmal-ərd 

plural mallard or mallards

: a common and widely distributed wild duck of the northern hemisphere the males of which have a green head and white ring around the neck and that is the source of the domestic ducks