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Definition of widowbird

widowbird

/ˈwɪd.oʊˌbɜːrd/
wid · ow · bird
Plural:widowbirds
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widowbird Lexical Profile

widowbird Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of several species of African weaverbirds of the genus Euplectes, native to sub-Saharan Africa, noted for the male's striking breeding plumage which features extensive black coloring and extraordinarily long tail feathers.

Example

"During the rainy season, the male long-tailed widowbird performs an elaborate, slow-motion flight display over the grasslands to attract mates."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for widowbird

• Nearby Words

widespread
widget
widow
widowbird
widowed
widower
widowerhood

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed as a compound of 'widow' and 'bird'. The name references the breeding male's striking black plumage and dramatically long, trailing tail feathers, which European observers likened to the dark veils and garments of a widow in mourning.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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