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Definition of sapsucker

sapsucker

/ˈsæpˌsʌk.ər/
sap · suck · er
Plural:sapsuckers
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sapsucker Lexical Profile

sapsucker Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American Any of several North American woodpeckers of the genus Sphyrapicus, known for drilling neat, shallow rows of holes in tree bark to feed on the sap and the insects attracted to it.

Example

"During our hike through the dense woods, we spotted a yellow-bellied sapsucker clinging to a birch trunk."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for sapsucker

• Nearby Words

sapote
sapphire
sapporo
sapsucker
sarajevo
sarasvati
saratoga

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century as a compound of 'sap' and 'sucker', referring directly to the bird's distinctive feeding behavior of drilling holes in trees to consume the sap.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sapsucker. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sapsucker
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