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Definition of tanager

tanager

/ˈtænədʒər/
tan · a · ger
Plural:tanagers
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tanager Lexical Profile

tanager Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of numerous species of small, frequently brightly colored New World songbirds, primarily belonging to the family Thraupidae, which inhabit forests and woodlands across North, Central, and South America.

Example

"During our spring birdwatching expedition in Costa Rica, we spotted a brilliantly vibrant scarlet tanager perched high in the forest canopy."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tanager

• Rhymes for tanager

• Nearby Words

tan
tana
tanacetum
tanager
tanana
tancitaro rattlesnake
tandem

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived in the early 17th century from the Tupi word 'tangara', referring to a brightly colored bird, which was then adopted into Modern Latin taxonomy.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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