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

According to the New York DEC, pheasants are among the state’s most popular small game animals and approximately 23,000 hunters harvest more than 50,000 pheasants each year. —Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 1 Jan. 2025

Bones offers a hearty list of steak and chop cuts, including a Mixed Grill that gives you a sampling of filet mignon, lamb, and pheasant sausage. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2024

Ingredients include wild game like boar, pheasant, and venison, plus foraged botanicals such as pine, cattail, and Saskatoon berries. —Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 27 Dec. 2024

South Dakota native son and fellow pheasant hunter Tom Brokaw describes opening day of pheasant season here as a religious holiday. —Chris Dorsey, Forbes, 9 Dec. 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