rooster
Americannoun
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the male of domestic fowl and certain game birds; cock.
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a representation of this bird, used as an emblem of the Democratic Party from 1842 to 1874.
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Informal. a cocky person.
noun
Etymology
Origin of rooster
Explanation
A rooster is a male chicken. If your cute baby chick grows up to crow loudly first thing every morning, he's probably a rooster. The word rooster is an American invention, inspired by the rooster's habit of roosting, or standing up on a perch while sleeping or while on the lookout for danger. In the UK, a rooster is more likely to be called a cock or cockerel. In a flock of birds, the rooster's job is to defend the chickens and their nests from predators and other roosters.
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.
The Red Rooster festival was due to take place 28–30 May at Euston Estate, Suffolk, close to Thetford in Norfolk.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
In “Rooster,” a genial comedy premiering Sunday on HBO, Steve Carell, comfortable as an uncomfortable person, plays Greg Russo, the author of a best-selling series of books whose hero is named Rooster.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2026
A screenshot of a video call with the staffer was shared by Ohio politics blog, The Rooster.
From Salon • Oct. 15, 2025
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the area where the accident occurred is near a rock feature known as Rooster Rock, which has an underwater drop-off more than 300ft deep.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2025
“And Rooster Jim says summer’s worse than spring!”
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
