merganser

noun

mer·​gan·​ser (ˌ)mər-ˈgan(t)-sər 

: any of various fish-eating diving ducks (especially genus Mergus) with a slender bill hooked at the end and serrated along the margins and usually a crested head see common merganser

Illustration of merganser

Examples of merganser in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On a warm September Sunday, just an hour and a half from Boston, there were no other people in the water, just quacking mergansers, laughing gulls, pearly oyster shells within arm’s reach, and a wondrous sense of peace. —Lauren Matison, Travel + Leisure, 1 Nov. 2025

Duck, coot, merganser: Nov. 22-Dec. 1, Dec. 10-23, Dec. 27-Jan. 1 statewide. —Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2025

Several species including mallards, wood ducks, and mergansers can be spotted in the city's waterways year-round, according to Birding Around NYC. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025

Like the loons and pelicans, the mergansers and the buffleheads, which breed in northern Minnesota and Canada, among other places, are just passing through. —Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin mergus, a waterfowl (from mergere) + anser goose — more at goose

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing merganser

• common merganser

Rhymes for merganser

• enhancer
• romancer
• anser
• answer
• cancer
• dancer
• lancer
• anticancer
• necromancer

Kids Definition

merganser

noun

mer·​gan·​ser (ˌ)mər-ˈgan(t)-sər 

plural mergansers or merganser

: any of various fish-eating wild ducks with a slender bill hooked at the end and usually with a bunch of feathers on the head that point backward