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  • robin
    robin
    noun
    any of several small Old World birds having a red or reddish breast, especially Erithacus rubecula, of Europe.
  • Robin
    Robin
    noun
    a male or female given name: derived from Robert.

robin

1 American  
[rob-in] / ˈrɒb ɪn /

noun

  1. any of several small Old World birds having a red or reddish breast, especially Erithacus rubecula, of Europe.

  2. a large American thrush, Turdus migratorius, having a chestnut-red breast and abdomen.

  3. any of several similar thrushes of the New World tropics, not necessarily having reddish underparts, as T. grayi clay-colored robin, of Mexico and Central America.


Robin 2 American  
[rob-in] / ˈrɒb ɪn /

noun

  1. a male or female given name: derived from Robert.


robin British  
/ ˈrɒbɪn /

noun

  1. Also called: robin redbreast.  a small Old World songbird, Erithacus rubecula , related to the thrushes: family Muscicapidae . The male has a brown back, orange-red breast and face, and grey underparts

  2. a North American thrush, Turdus migratorius , similar to but larger than the Old World robin

  3. any of various similar birds having a reddish breast

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of robin

First recorded in 1540–50; short for robin redbreast

Explanation

The sweet-sounding, red-chested birds that symbolize the beginning of spring are robins. There are actually many different birds called robins, and while most share a reddish-orange breast, they're actually distantly related to each other. In the U.S., the bird we think of as a robin is officially the American robin, a kind of thrush. It's the most common land bird in North America, and it's famous for laying eggs very early in the spring — and singing at the crack of dawn. The robin's most deadly predator is the domesticated cat.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Self-funded wealthy candidates have been a part of American politics for decades, said Robin Kolodny, a Temple University professor of political science with an expertise in campaign finance.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

“Our Core AI-powered Business exceeded half of Baidu General Business revenue for the first time, marking a clear signal that AI has become the core driver of Baidu,” CEO Robin Li said in a statement.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

The chief executive of Cireco Scotland, Robin Baird, said he was confident that all staff were directed to safe escape routes.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Her father secures a farm job on land nearby, and as Robin’s family settles into the meager accommodation provided for laborers, Robin sneaks off to probe the secrets of the great house.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Pita, being so attached to the donkey, was too busy petting it to climb up, so Juanita whistled at her and said, “You too, Christopher Robin, up on the wagon.”

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

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