flamingo

noun

fla·​min·​go flə-ˈmiŋ-(ˌ)gō 

plural flamingos also flamingoes

: any of several large aquatic birds (family Phoenicopteridae) with long legs and neck, webbed feet, a broad lamellate bill resembling that of a duck but abruptly bent downward, and usually rosy-white plumage with scarlet wing coverts and black wing quills

Illustration of flamingo

Examples of flamingo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Laure Prouvost’s vast tapestry ‘Above front tears’( 2024) was created with Flanders Tapestries BVBA and features fish-bird hybrid creatures, flamingos, foliage and mountains, in a washed out pastel palette evoking a fading, otherworldly paradise. —Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024

With it, lawn flamingos will be waiting at your trailer, along with a sparkling-wine Shirley Temple kit. —Catherine Garcia, theweek, 16 Oct. 2024

There are approximately 550 lesser flamingos in U.S. zoos, a park spokesperson said. —Karen Kucher, The Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2024

The flamingos were swept up in the storm and deposited as far away as Wisconsin, Missouri and Kansas. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

obsolete Spanish flamengo (now flamenco), literally, Fleming, German (conventionally thought of as ruddy-complexioned)

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

flamingo

noun

fla·​min·​go flə-ˈmiŋ-gō 

plural flamingos also flamingoes

: any of several rosy-white birds with scarlet wings, a very long neck and legs, and a broad bill bent down at the end that are often found wading in shallow water

Etymology

from Portuguese flamingo "flamingo," from Spanish flamenco "flamingo," derived from Latin flamma "flame"; so called from the fiery red feathers on the underside of the wings