pheasant

noun

pheas·​ant ˈfe-zᵊnt 

plural pheasant or pheasants

1

: any of numerous large often long-tailed and brightly colored Old World gallinaceous birds (Phasianus and related genera of the family Phasianidae) including many raised as ornamental or game birds compare ring-necked pheasant

2

: any of various birds resembling a pheasant

Examples of pheasant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Accompanied by his mother (my great-grandmother), Ripley traveled to this area to collect rare specimens, including birds of paradise, crowned pigeons, pheasants, and storks. —Gisela Williams, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026

The year begins with a whitetail hunt in Barbour County, Alabama, and a winter pheasant hunt in the Imperial Valley. —Stephanie Ogilvie, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026

Bella Italia is known for game dishes such as ostrich, pheasant, antelope, venison, elk, caribou and bison along with house grappa. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Dec. 2025

Prince William — who, like his closest friends, is passionate about shooting — enjoys the sport around the estate over the period, and much of the socializing is based around the pheasant shoots. —Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fesaunt, from Anglo-French fesant, faisan, from Latin phasianus, from Greek (ornis) phasianos, from phasianos of the Phasis River, from Phasis, river in Colchis

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pheasant

• ring-necked pheasant

Rhymes for pheasant

• peasant
• pleasant
• present
• omnipresent
• unpleasant

Kids Definition

pheasant

noun

pheas·​ant ˈfez-ᵊnt 

plural pheasant or pheasants

: any of numerous large long-tailed brightly colored birds that are related to the domestic chicken and many of which are raised as ornamental or game birds