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Definition of frigatebird

frigatebird

/ˈfrɪɡ.ətˌbɜːrd/
frig · ate · bird
Plural:frigatebirds
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frigatebird Lexical Profile

frigatebird Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of several species of large seabirds in the family Fregatidae, native to tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, characterized by long, pointed wings, a deeply forked tail, and the male's prominent red inflatable throat pouch used during courtship displays.

Example

"During our expedition to the Galapagos Islands, we photographed a male frigatebird fully inflating its brilliant red throat pouch to attract a mate."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for frigatebird

• Nearby Words

fried chicken
fried rice
frigate
frigatebird
frilled dragon
frilled lizard
fringe

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 17th century by English mariners, who likened the bird's swift, highly maneuverable flight and its habit of stealing food from other seabirds (kleptoparasitism) to the tactics of a frigate, a fast and lightly armed warship.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Frigatebird. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/frigatebird
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