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
Examples of ostrich in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Each fixture looks like a big gray Lego block, with a round socket holding a bulb the size of an ostrich egg encased in a thick glass globe, like a gumball machine.
—
Diego Lasarte, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
To a wild-card berth highlighted by Hedges’ smashing of an ostrich egg on the final weekend of the regular season, with yolk flying everywhere.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Now, the couple lives with two dogs, a cat, five ostriches and three mini donkeys on their small farm with Weave hanging out with them as much as possible.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
This would have meant a high metabolism, leading Ostrom to compare Deinonychus to modern animals with similar traits, such as emus and ostriches.
—Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostrich
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Diego Lasarte, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
To a wild-card berth highlighted by Hedges’ smashing of an ostrich egg on the final weekend of the regular season, with yolk flying everywhere.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Now, the couple lives with two dogs, a cat, five ostriches and three mini donkeys on their small farm with Weave hanging out with them as much as possible.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
This would have meant a high metabolism, leading Ostrom to compare Deinonychus to modern animals with similar traits, such as emus and ostriches.
—Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ostrich
Cite this Entry
“Ostrich.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ostrich. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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