poultry

noun

poul·​try ˈpōl-trē How to pronounce poultry (audio)
: domesticated birds kept for eggs or meat

Examples of poultry in a Sentence

This wine goes well with poultry.
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.
Beijing has responded with its own 34 percent tariff on American exports and has moved to restrict key imports such as sorghum and poultry while tightening export controls on critical rare earth elements. John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025 These products range from poultry and beef to clothing, carpets, wood, diamonds, dairy, beer and wine. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 7 Apr. 2025 Since highly pathogenic avian influenza surfaced in the United States in 2022, millions of chickens and turkeys have been killed at poultry ranches across California to stop the contagious virus from spreading. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2025 The spread among poultry farms has driven up egg prices for American consumers. Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for poultry

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pultrie, from Anglo-French pulletrie, from pulleter poulterer, from pullet chicken — more at pullet

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poultry was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poultry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poultry. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

poultry

noun
poul·​try ˈpōl-trē How to pronounce poultry (audio)
: domesticated birds kept for eggs or meat
Etymology

Middle English pultrie "fowl raised for food," from early French pulletrie (same meaning), from pulleter "one who raises poultry," from pullet "chicken" — related to pullet

More from Merriam-Webster on poultry

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