purple martin
noun
: a large swallow (Progne subis) of North America the males of which have glossy purplish-blue plumage
Examples of purple martin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Birds that forage for insects during flight, such as swallows and purple martins, also leave the sky.
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Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024
But purple martins—shimmery, blackish-bluish swallows native to North America—just can’t get enough.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2023
Allowed to mature, it can be hollowed out to make vessels, utensils, musical instruments, and birdhouses (especially purple martin houses).
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023
Two Caspian terns at West Beach in Westport and another Caspian tern at Broad Cove in Somerset, and two great cormorants, two great shearwaters, and four purple martins at Gooseberry Neck in Westport.
—BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for purple martin 
Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024
But purple martins—shimmery, blackish-bluish swallows native to North America—just can’t get enough.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2023
Allowed to mature, it can be hollowed out to make vessels, utensils, musical instruments, and birdhouses (especially purple martin houses).
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023
Two Caspian terns at West Beach in Westport and another Caspian tern at Broad Cove in Somerset, and two great cormorants, two great shearwaters, and four purple martins at Gooseberry Neck in Westport.
—BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for purple martin
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'purple martin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Purple martin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purple%20martin. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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