Tyrannidae

plural noun

Ty·​ran·​ni·​dae

tə̇ˈranəˌdē,

tīˈr-

: a large exclusively American family of birds that are most numerous in South and Central America but well represented in the U.S. and Canada, comprise the tyrant flycatchers, are mostly strictly insectivorous and take their prey on the wing, have a flattened bill often hooked at the tip and usually bristly at the gape, and with the pittas, cotingas, and related birds constitute a superfamily of the suborder Tyranni

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Tyrannus, type genus + -idae

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!