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

The photos, taken between May 9 and 13, show the pheasant in the same forest clearing, sometimes standing still and sometimes spreading its wings. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025

In a more extreme case, an 81-year-old hunter was deemed liable for negligence after accidentally shooting someone while out pheasant hunting in South Windsor in 2023. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 May 2025

Each summer in the U.K., up to 50 million pheasants are released into woods and fields for recreational shooting. —John Drake, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

The 17-acre green space is home to native foliage, mammals (like alpacas, emus and Sardinian sheep) and birds (such as pheasants, turkeys and Mandarin ducks). —Demarco Williams, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 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