waterfowl
noun
wa·ter·fowl
ˈwȯ-tər-ˌfau̇(-ə)l 
ˈwä-
plural waterfowl also waterfowls
: a bird that frequents water
especially
: a swimming game bird (such as a duck or goose) as distinguished from an upland game bird or shorebird
Examples of waterfowl in a Sentence
The lake is a refuge for migrating waterfowl.
Recent Examples on the Web
Market hunters of later days could tell grisly stories of waterfowl mowed down en masse.
—
Nash Buckingham, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025
This is a great spot to sit, have a snack and observe the waterfowl and other birds, like red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows and lesser goldfinches (which are only lesser in their names).
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
Professor Jemma Geoghegan, an evolutionary biologist and virologist at New Zealand's University of Otago, said Monday most lineages of H5N1 are only dispersed long distances by migratory waterfowl.
—Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
Bred to retrieve shot waterfowl, golden retrievers have dense, water-repellent coats and a natural affinity for swimming and playing in the water.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waterfowl
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Nash Buckingham, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025
This is a great spot to sit, have a snack and observe the waterfowl and other birds, like red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows and lesser goldfinches (which are only lesser in their names).
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
Professor Jemma Geoghegan, an evolutionary biologist and virologist at New Zealand's University of Otago, said Monday most lineages of H5N1 are only dispersed long distances by migratory waterfowl.
—Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
Bred to retrieve shot waterfowl, golden retrievers have dense, water-repellent coats and a natural affinity for swimming and playing in the water.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waterfowl
Cite this Entry
“Waterfowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waterfowl. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
waterfowl
noun
wa·ter·fowl
ˈwȯt-ər-ˌfau̇l
ˈwät-
plural waterfowl also waterfowls
: a bird that is found in or near water
especially
: a swimming bird (as a duck or goose) often hunted as game
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