pheasant

noun

pheas·​ant ˈfe-zᵊnt 

plural pheasant or pheasants

1

: any of numerous large often long-tailed and brightly colored Old World gallinaceous birds (Phasianus and related genera of the family Phasianidae) including many raised as ornamental or game birds compare ring-necked pheasant

2

: any of various birds resembling a pheasant

Examples of pheasant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The team initially studied pheasants’ wings and flapping patterns to engineer a realistic drone that, when paired with a real taxidermied pheasant head and wings, could blend in naturally with live pheasants for less invasive wildlife monitoring. —Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024

Daines likes to target big game such as elk and antelope while Thune likes to hunt pheasant in South Dakota’s fields and prairies, which are considered the best pheasant hunting ground in the country. —Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 31 Oct. 2024

The daily bag limit for wild pheasant in Minnesota is two birds. —Wes Siler, Outside Online, 17 Oct. 2024

But Rall’s intrepid dogs couldn’t actually find the pheasant in the cover. —Tribune News Service, Orange County Register, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fesaunt, from Anglo-French fesant, faisan, from Latin phasianus, from Greek (ornis) phasianos, from phasianos of the Phasis River, from Phasis, river in Colchis

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pheasant

• ring-necked pheasant

Kids Definition

pheasant

noun

pheas·​ant ˈfez-ᵊnt 

plural pheasant or pheasants

: any of numerous large long-tailed brightly colored birds that are related to the domestic chicken and many of which are raised as ornamental or game birds