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.

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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

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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

And as Rai’s putter heated up, including with a 68-footer for birdie on No. 17, he built a three-stroke margin of victory.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

Hitting more fairways set up more birdie chances and eliminated mistakes in one of only two bogey-free rounds.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Despite hitting every fairway, the American struggled to convert several birdie opportunities and sits seven shots adrift.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

They saw me as a birdie with a troubled wing that should remain close to the nest.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys