: any of various dark-colored web-footed waterbirds (family Phalacrocoracidae, especially genus Phalacrocorax) that have a long neck, hooked bill, and distensible throat pouch
Diamond Jim Brady was perhaps the most celebrated cormorant of the Gilded Age.
Recent Examples on the WebSimply not randomly shooting ravens, hawks and eagles, along with banning the harmful pesticide DDT, allowed many species, like eagles, cormorants and osprey, to return from the brink.—John Myers, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024 Several sleek black diving cormorants, along with an osprey, roosted in the branches during a morning visit on Thursday.—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 24 May 2024 When fish are stuck in the canal, predators like grebes and cormorants can more easily snatch them.—Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024 One bird — a Brandt’s cormorant — that had been oiled died over the weekend.—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cormorant
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cormorant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English cormeraunt, from Middle French cormorant, from Old French cormareng, from corp raven + marenc of the sea, from Latin marinus — more at corbel, marine
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