Definition of ratite
: a bird with a flat breastbone; especially : any of various mostly flightless birds (such as an ostrich, rhea, emu, moa, or kiwi) with small or rudimentary wings and no keel on the sternum that are probably of polyphyletic origin and are assigned to a number of different orders
ratite
adjectiveFrom the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of ratite from the Web
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But in all ratites aside from ostriches, only the male cares for the offspring.
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Origin and Etymology of ratite
ultimately from Latin ratitus marked with the figure of a raft, from ratis raft
Learn More about ratite
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See words that rhyme with ratite Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ratite
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