macaw

noun

ma·​caw mə-ˈkȯ How to pronounce macaw (audio)
: any of numerous parrots (especially genus Ara) of South and Central America including some of the largest and showiest of parrots

Illustration of macaw

Illustration of macaw

Examples of macaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
She was buried wearing a cloak of blue and brown feathers, seemingly from a macaw of the Amazon rainforest. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025 Portraits of a macaw, E.T. and a cat named Tiger line the walls of a new arts space east of downtown. Annalise Frank, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025 That goes for any of the more than 300 types of parrot, which includes parakeets, cockatoos, macaws and others. Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025 As for her accessories, Queen Camilla styled her signature pieces by Van Cleef & Arpels and added a vibrant gold macaw brooch. Julia Teti, WWD, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for macaw

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese (now obsolete) macao

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of macaw was in 1625

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Macaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/macaw. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

macaw

noun
ma·​caw mə-ˈkȯ How to pronounce macaw (audio)
: any of numerous parrots of South and Central America that have a long tail, a harsh voice, and bright feathers

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