ostrich

noun

os·​trich ˈä-strich 

ˈȯ-,

 also  -strij

1

a

: a swift-footed 2-toed flightless ratite bird (Struthio camelus) of Africa that is the largest of existing birds and often weighs 300 pounds (140 kilograms)

b

: rhea

c

: leather made from ostrich skin

2

[from the belief that the ostrich when pursued hides its head in the sand and believes itself to be unseen] : one who attempts to avoid danger or difficulty by refusing to face it

ostrichlike

ˈä-strich-ˌlīk 

ˈȯ-

 also  -strij-

adjective

Examples of ostrich in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Or just pay close attention to the time-lapse footage of emerging cicadas or the cavorting manatees or the Darwin’s rhea, a South American ostrich that happens to be from one of the few species in the documentary that let males raise their kids. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2025

Shy, reclusive ostriches hesitantly seek the support of antelope and zebra to remain safe from carnivores. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

No matter what life throws at you, always keep one foot on the ground like a pink flamingo and your head buried in the sand like an ostrich. —Viktoria Shulevich, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Sabrina Carpenter walked the red carpet at the 2025 Grammys in a baby blue JW Anderson dress festooned with ostrich feathers. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French ostriz, ostrige, from Vulgar Latin *avis struthio, from Latin avis bird + Late Latin struthio ostrich — more at struthious

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ostrich

• ostrich fern

Kids Definition

ostrich

noun

os·​trich ˈäs-trich 

ˈȯs-

1

: a very large bird of Africa that often weighs as much as 300 pounds (140 kilograms), runs very quickly but cannot fly, and has large wing and tail feathers used especially formerly in dusters and fans and to adorn hats and clothing

2

: one who tries to avoid danger by refusing to face it