aerie

American  

[air-ee, eer-ee] / ˈɛər i, ˈɪər i /

Also eyrie, or aery

noun

plural

aeries

1. the nest of a bird of prey, as an eagle or a hawk.

2. a lofty nest of any large bird.

3. a house, fortress, or the like, located high on a hill or mountain.

   They felt protected from invaders in the hilltop aerie.

4. an apartment or office on a high floor in a high-rise building.

   a penthouse aerie with a spectacular view.

5. Obsolete. the brood in a nest, especially of a bird of prey.

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aerie British  

/ ˈɪərɪ, ˈɛərɪ /

noun

1. a variant spelling (esp US) of eyrie

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Etymology

Origin of aerie

First recorded in 1575–85; from Anglo-French, Old French airie, equivalent to aire (from Latin ager “field,” presumably “nest” in Vulgar Latin ) + ie; see origin at acre, -y ³; compare Medieval Latin aerea, aeria “aerie, brood,” from Old French aire

Explanation

An aerie is the nest of a large bird of prey somewhere high up, such as the branch of a tree or a clifftop. Don't confuse aerie with airy, meaning spacious and well ventilated (though it's a safe bet that given their location most aeries are exactly that). The word also has the meaning of a human residence that's perched high up — particularly an artist's garret, for example, in the eaves of a building.

Example Sentences

It will be interesting to see where Thorne lands after leaving an aerie like this.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 15, 2025

Tan’s gorgeous aerie above San Francisco Bay, with its canopy of four Pacific live oaks, is a paradise for birds, hosting 63 species and counting.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2024

Bethany: The amount of fabric involved in the curtains that transform the ballroom aerie into a movie theater is impressive!

From Seattle Times • Jul. 22, 2023

From his glass aerie, Statter surveys the roads below: Zeus without a lightning bolt but with social media.

From Washington Post • Mar. 29, 2022

After dinner he would lean back against the base of an old chestnut oak, put his hands under his head, and watch the aerie.

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George