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Definition of elaenia
elaenia
/ɪˈleɪ.ni.ə/
e · lae · ni · a
Plural:elaenias
elaenia Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
13
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of numerous small to medium-sized tyrant flycatchers of the genus Elaenia, native primarily to Central and South America and the Caribbean, typically characterized by relatively plain, olive-green or brownish plumage and a subtle crest.
Example
"During the birdwatching expedition in Costa Rica, the guide pointed out a yellow-bellied elaenia foraging for berries in the canopy."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for elaenia• Rhymes for elaenia
Word Origin & Etymology
From Modern Latin Elaenia (the genus name), derived from Ancient Greek elaineos ('of olive-wood' or 'olive-green'), from elaia ('olive'), referring to the bird's typical olive-colored plumage.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Elaenia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/elaenia