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snowy owl

noun

: a large ground-nesting diurnal arctic owl (Bubo scandiacus) that enters the chiefly northern parts of the U.S. in winter and has plumage that is sometimes nearly pure white but usually with brownish spots or bars

Illustration of snowy owl

Illustration of snowy owl

Examples of snowy owl in a Sentence

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.
While snowy owls aren't rare in Chicago, their frequency varies widely each winter. CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025 Speaking of owls, the last couple of years, there have been snowy owls at Denver International Airport. Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2025 Depending on the season, visitors might encounter bald eagles, wild turkeys, migrating songbirds, and even attention-grabbing rarities such as snowy owls and puffin-like razorbills. Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025 His father had once taken him to the beach to look for a snowy owl, so Gulbransen set out to photograph one. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for snowy owl

Word History

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of snowy owl was in 1781

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Cite this Entry

“Snowy owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snowy%20owl. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

snowy owl

noun
: a large chiefly arctic owl that nests on the ground and is white or white spotted with brown

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