birdie

American  

[bur-dee] / ˈbɜr di /

noun

1. a small bird.

2. Golf. a score of one stroke under par on a hole.

3. a shuttlecock.

---

verb (used with object)

birdied, birdieing

1. Golf. to make a birdie on (a hole).

birdie British  

/ ˈbɜːdɪ /

noun

1. golf a score of one stroke under par for a hole

2. informal a bird, esp a small bird

---

verb

1. (tr) golf to play (a hole) in one stroke under par

Etymology

Origin of birdie

First recorded in 1785–95; bird + -ie

Example Sentences

He followed that up with a chip-in for birdie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

When he stuck an iron inside 7 feet on the par-3 12th hole, it was the closest anybody had been to the pin on Sunday and set up another birdie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

On Sunday, he played those three holes par, par and birdie, going some distance toward exorcising the demons of 2011.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Li, who shot a one-under 71 on Thursday, started with a birdie on the first before bogeys on four and seven put him one over at the turn.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

“I guess a little birdie told somebody,” Lavadie grunted sarcastically.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols