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Definition of hoatzin

hoatzin

/hwɑːtˈsiːn/
hoat · zin
Plural:hoatzins
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hoatzin Lexical Profile

hoatzin Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A large, crested, pheasant-like bird (Opisthocomus hoazin) native to the swamps, riparian forests, and mangroves of the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America, noted for possessing prominent claws on the wing digits of its chicks and for a specialized digestive system that ferments vegetation.

Example

"While exploring the flooded forests of the Amazon basin, the ornithology students finally spotted a hoatzin clumsily clambering through the dense riverside canopy."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hoatzin

• Rhymes for hoatzin

• Nearby Words

hoarse
hoarsely
hoarseness
hoatzin
hoax
hoaxer
hob

Word Origin & Etymology

From Spanish 'hoatzin', ultimately derived from Classical Nahuatl 'huātzin', a word originally used to describe a different type of pheasant-like bird in Mexico.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hoatzin. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hoatzin
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