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Definition of wheatear

wheatear

/ˈwiːtɪər/
wheat · ear
Plural:wheatears
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wheatear Lexical Profile

wheatear Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small migratory songbird of the flycatcher family (genus Oenanthe), widespread across Europe, Asia, Africa, and parts of North America, distinguished by its primarily ground-dwelling habits in open, rocky habitats and its conspicuous white rump.

Example

"During our hike across the Scottish moors, we spotted a northern wheatear darting actively between the limestone boulders."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for wheatear

• Nearby Words

wheat
wheat ridge
wheatbelt
wheatear
wheaten
wheatfield
wheatgerm

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived by folk etymology from a 16th-century term originally meaning 'white arse' (referencing the bird's prominent white rump plumage), which gradually shifted in spelling and pronunciation to resemble the unrelated words 'wheat' and 'ear'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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