pigeon

1 of 2

noun (1)

pi·​geon ˈpi-jən How to pronounce pigeon (audio)
1
: any of a widely distributed family (Columbidae, order Columbiformes) of birds with a stout body, rather short legs, and smooth and compact plumage
especially : a member of any of numerous varieties of the rock dove that exist in domestication and in the feral state in cities and towns throughout most of the world
2
: a young woman
3
: an easy mark : dupe
4

pigeon

2 of 2

noun (2)

: an object of special concern : accepted business or interest
tennis was not his pigeon

Examples of pigeon in a Sentence

Noun (1) a confidence man in search of another pigeon
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Minute after minute, little waves hit a granite cliff, or year after year, the wings of pigeons vary slightly. Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025 Lilian listened to the pigeons on the roof cooing, in the same manner that their cousins cooed in Belfast or Bruges or Barcelona. Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025 Airport personnel were called to deal with the unexpected guest, and a Delta baggage handler removed the pigeon safely, clearing the way for what was expected to be a routine takeoff just after 10 p.m. Stock image of a pigeon. Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025 Likely, species that already thrive in the subway—rats, cockroaches, pigeons, opossums—would be the first ones to take advantage of the human-free passages. Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for pigeon

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French pygoun, pijun, from Late Latin pipion-, pipio young bird, from Latin pipire to chirp

Noun (2)

alteration of pidgin

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pigeon was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pigeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pigeon. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

pigeon

noun
pi·​geon
ˈpij-ən
1
: any of numerous birds with a stout body, usually short legs, and smooth feathers
especially : any of many varieties of the rock dove that are domesticated or have escaped from domestication and live in cities and towns throughout most of the world
2
: someone who is easily fooled or cheated

More from Merriam-Webster on pigeon

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