meadowlark

noun

mead·​ow·​lark ˈme-dō-ˌlärk How to pronounce meadowlark (audio)
-də-
: any of several American songbirds (genera Sturnella and Leistes of the family Icteridae) that are streaked brown above and in northernmost forms have a yellow breast marked with a black crescent

Illustration of meadowlark

Illustration of meadowlark

Examples of meadowlark 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.
Gray foxes are said to reside here along with reptiles like the smooth green snake and eastern milk snake, as well as numerous birds, including the Virginian rail, Henslow’s sparrow, bobolink and eastern meadowlark. Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025 The overall goal is to sustain and enhance sandplain grassland habitat, a habitat that many species rely on to survive and reproduce, including grassland nesting birds like the upland sandpiper, grasshopper sparrow, eastern meadowlark, and savannah sparrow. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2024 Black terns and eastern meadowlarks have also dwindled. John Myers, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024 Western meadowlarks, prevalent in the central and western U.S.; three-fourths have disappeared. David Schechter, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for meadowlark

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meadowlark was in 1611

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Meadowlark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meadowlark. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

meadowlark

noun
mead·​ow·​lark -ˌlärk How to pronounce meadowlark (audio)
: any of several North American songbirds that are largely brown and buff above with a yellow breast having a black V-shaped mark across it

More from Merriam-Webster on meadowlark

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!