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Definition of cygnet
cygnet
/ˈsɪɡ.nɪt/
cyg · net
Plural:cygnets
cygnet Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
cygnet Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A young or juvenile swan (genus Cygnus, family Anatidae), typically covered in soft gray or brownish down feathers before developing the adult plumage.
Example
"The mother swan glided across the tranquil pond with a line of fluffy gray cygnets swimming closely behind her."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for cygnetWord Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'cygnet' (a young swan) with its homophone 'signet' (a small seal, often set in a ring, used to authenticate official documents).
• Rhymes for cygnet
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-Norman 'cignet', a diminutive of Old French 'cigne' (swan), which derives via Latin 'cygnus' from Ancient Greek 'kýknos' (swan).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cygnet. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cygnet