whooper swan

noun

: a chiefly Eurasian swan (Cygnus cygnus) with a yellow and black bill compare trumpeter swan

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Diana Rebman, winner of the amateur category, had been hoping to photograph whooper swans on a cold day in Japan’s Akan-Mashu National Park, but the winds were very strong and the swans looked dirty. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 6 July 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whooper swan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of whooper swan was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near whooper swan

Cite this Entry

“Whooper swan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whooper%20swan. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


What Did You Just Call Me?

  • brown chihuahua sitting on the floor with squinting eyes looking at the camera
  • Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a flibbertigibbet.
Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY