oriole

noun

ori·​ole ˈȯr-ē-ˌōl  -ē-əl 

1

: any of various usually brightly colored Old World passerine birds (family Oriolidae and especially genus Oriolus)

2

: any of various New World passerine birds (genus Icterus of the family Icteridae) of which the males are usually black and yellow or black and orange

Illustration of oriole

• oriole 2

Examples of oriole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The birds of summer, those energetic hooded orioles are gone. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025

Keep an eye out for chachalaca, green jays, Altamira orioles, and the occasional rare avian visitor that wanders in from faraway. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025

The list includes hooded and Bullock’s orioles, American bushtits, and Hutton’s and warbling vireos. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 23 June 2025

Dale delighted in spotting green jays, merlins, and Altamira orioles. —Laura Mallonee, Wired News, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin oriolus, from Medieval Latin, from Old French oriol, from Latin aureolus golden-colored, diminutive of aureus golden — more at aureus

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing oriole

• Baltimore oriole
• Bullock's oriole
• northern oriole

Rhymes for oriole

• amphibole
• asystole
• buttonhole
• casserole
• centriole
• decontrol
• glycerol
• metropole
• monopole
• multipole
• omeprazole
• petiole

Kids Definition

oriole

noun

ori·​ole ˈōr-ē-ˌōl  ˈȯr- 

-ē-əl

1

: any of various usually brightly colored Old World birds related to the crows

2

: any of various New World birds that build hanging nests woven from various materials (as grass and leaves) and the males of which are usually black and yellow or orange and the females chiefly greenish or yellowish