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

---

bevy British  

/ ˈbɛvɪ /

noun

1. a flock of quails

2. a group, esp of girls

3. a group of roedeer

---

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

The new category came as part of a bevy of added or tweaked awards and nominating rules that will debut at next year’s ceremony on Feb. 7.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

Carol and her sister Elaine arrived at my memory-disorder center with Rodney and a bevy of questions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 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

Pearl Ann, home from college, served punch while Mrs. Larkin held court with a bevy of women.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

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

A Roman Catholic Marylander whose family has grown tobacco there since 1655. he has a strong craving for the gentleman farmer's life of herds, droves, flocks and bevies, of hunting, fishing and camping.

From Time Magazine Archive

O'er the grass together pass Bands of lads love-laden: Row by row in bevies go Bride and blushing maiden.

From Wine, Women, and Song Mediaeval Latin Students' songs; Now first translated into English verse by John Addington Symonds