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Definition of elaenia

elaenia

/ɪˈleɪ.ni.ə/
e · lae · ni · a
Plural:elaenias
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elaenia Lexical Profile

• 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

• Nearby Words

elaboration
elaborative
elaborator
elaenia
elakala
elan
eland

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 Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/elaenia
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