osprey

noun

os·​prey ˈä-sprē  -ˌsprā 

plural ospreys

1

: a large fish-eating hawk (Pandion haliaetus) with long wings that is dark brown above and mostly pure white below

2

: a feather trimming used for millinery

Illustration of osprey

• osprey 1

Examples of osprey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Last August, some ospreys forced Apple Valley High School to rearrange their sports schedule. —Ashley Grams, CBS News, 12 May 2026

Sharif estimated the ospreys will depart in three to four months, once their chicks are able to fly. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026

Bald eagles eat carrion and are notorious for robbing osprey of their catches, the Smithsonian said. —Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Watch dunlins, piping plovers, herons, osprey, and even bald eagles make the mangroves and coastal pines their warm-weather home. —Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ospray, from Anglo-French *osfraie, from Latin ossifraga, a bird of prey

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

osprey

noun

os·​prey ˈäs-prē  -ˌprā 

plural ospreys

: a large hawk that is dark brown above and mostly white below and that feeds chiefly on fish

called also fish hawk