sparrow

noun

spar·​row ˈsper-(ˌ)ō 

ˈspa-(ˌ)rō

1

: any of a genus (Passer of the family Passeridae) of small chiefly brownish or grayish Old World oscine songbirds that include some which have been widely introduced

especially : house sparrow

2

: any of numerous finches (family Passeridae) that are New World birds (such as the song sparrow or tree sparrow) resembling the Old World sparrows

sparrowlike

ˈsper-(ˌ)ō-ˌlīk 

-ə-ˌlīk;

ˈspa-(ˌ)rō-ˌlīk

-rə-ˌlīk

adjective

Examples of sparrow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The next morning, their leftover crumbs would attract sparrows, doves and starlings—birds that Cooper’s hawks like to hunt and eat. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2025

The squirrels, ants and sparrows will be more than happy to tidy up. —Melissa Clark, New York Times, 21 May 2025

The casualties were mostly warblers, but also thrushes, sparrows and others. —Vincent Alban, New York Times, 21 May 2025

The researchers caught migrating Gambel’s sparrows near Yosemite National Park, where the birds are known to rest during migration, and nonmigratory Nuttal’s sparrows north of San Francisco in the Marin Headlands. —Elizabeth Landau, Quanta Magazine, 19 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sparow, from Old English spearwa; akin to Old High German sparo sparrow

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sparrow

• chipping sparrow
• English sparrow
• grasshopper sparrow
• house sparrow
• song sparrow
• sparrow hawk
• tree sparrow
• white-crowned sparrow
• white-throated sparrow

Rhymes for sparrow

• aero
• faro
• garo
• marrow
• narrow
• pharaoh
• taro
• bolero
• bracero
• estero
• herero
• montero

Kids Definition

sparrow

noun

spar·​row ˈspar-ō 

1

: any of several small songbirds that have usually brownish or grayish feathers and are related to the finches

especially : house sparrow

2

: any of numerous finches (as the song sparrow) that resemble the true sparrows