peafowl

American  

[pee-faul] / ˈpiˌfaʊl /

noun

• peafowls,
  plural
• peafowl
  plural

1. any of several gallinaceous birds of the genera Pavo, of India, Sri Lanka, southeastern Asia, and the East Indies, and Afropavo, of Africa.

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peafowl British  

/ ˈpiːˌfaʊl /

noun

1. either of two large pheasants, Pavo cristatus ( blue peafowl ) of India and Ceylon and P. muticus ( green peafowl ) of SE Asia. The males (peacocks) have a characteristic bright plumage See peacock

2. a rare closely related African species, Afropavo congensis ( Congo peafowl ), both sexes of which are brightly coloured

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• peafowl
  plural
• peafowls
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of peafowl

First recorded in 1795–1805; pea ( see peacock) + fowl

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

peafowl peafowls

As of the city’s 2025 peafowl census, there were 216 of the birds across six neighborhoods, up from 165 last year — a 31% increase.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2025

Shreyovi spotted the two Indian peafowl while walking in the forest with her parents.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2024

In the affluent village of Pinecrest, the peafowl found larger lots with plenty of greenery that were far more to their liking.

From New York Times ● Aug. 9, 2023

Nearly 100 peafowl walk freely around the zoo’s grounds.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 27, 2023

I looked up as I ran under some trees, other­wise peafowl might excrete on me.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Two months after the public forum, the fate of Monterey Hills’ peafowls was sealed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2023

In a phone interview, the 10-year-old said she’ll see two to three peafowls on a typical walk to school and believes they make South Pasadena special.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2023

Over the years nonnative visitors have included the mourning gecko, domestic ducks, cattle egrets, parakeets, peafowls and grackles.

From Scientific American ● Nov. 1, 2017

The school has an agricultural program and many animals on its campus, including, as it turns out, two peafowls.

From New York Times ● Aug. 22, 2012

Mr. Reese had a big flock of peafowls dat had belonged to Mr. Scott and I had to take care of dem.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Oklahoma Narratives by Work Projects Administration

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