bevy

American  

[bev-ee] / ˈbɛv i /

noun

• bevies
  plural

1. a group of birds, as larks or quail, or animals, as roebuck, in close association.

   Synonyms:

   brood, flight, covey

2. a large group or collection.

   a bevy of boisterous sailors.

   Synonyms:

   company, assembly

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bevy British  

/ ˈbɛvɪ /

noun

1. a flock of quails

2. a group, esp of girls

3. a group of roedeer

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bevies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bevy

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bevey, of obscure origin

Explanation

A bevy is a flock of birds. Although the term can be used for a variety of birds, it most often refers specifically to a bevy of quail. Other terms exist to describe flocks of other types of birds — a murder of crows, for example. A bevy can also describe a large gathering of people, usually of the same type (a bevy of schoolchildren; a bevy of tourists). Most often, however, bevy is used to refer to a gathering of women. At a family reunion, you may find your grandmother holding court in the kitchen with a bevy of female relations. Young, attractive women are sometimes referred to, somewhat poetically, as "a bevy of beauties."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bevy bevies

“There’s just a bevy of cases that say you can’t just go around the Senate rules or the House rules when you put somebody in contempt,” Brand said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

Given the show’s monologue-heavy format and bevy of literary references, it’s no surprise that the concept began as an essay.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

A bevy of leveraged exchange-traded funds tied to SpaceX made their debut on Monday and have already seen huge demand.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026

Tuesday, GM unveiled a bevy of energy announcements.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

Nurses from the prison’s emergency room came by, as well a; the prison’s “recreation director” and a bevy of sweet older ladies from town.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

The two became not only financial associates but social pals, traveling on Low’s jet with bevies of other boldfaced names to parties all over the world.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 3, 2023

Willy-nilly every man, no matter how graceless his exterior, plays the polite host to bevies of little animals who pasture on his interior reaches.

From Time Magazine Archive

Author Baumann rescues bevies of these politicians from oblivion, restores them to public note.

From Time Magazine Archive

Handlers would flush the bevies the dogs pointed but no one would shoot over them unless it was requested by the judges.

From Time Magazine Archive

Nor hole, nor crack, nor crevice Will let their head-gear in; While meaner rats in bevies An easy passage win;— So that the shafts of fate Do chiefly hit the great.

From A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine by Percy J. Billinghurst