birdseed

American

[burd-seed] / ˈbɜrdˌsid /

noun

any seed or mixture of seeds used for feeding birds.
the seed of a grass, Phalaris canariensis, used as food for birds.

birdseed British

/ ˈbɜːdˌsiːd /

noun

Also called: canary seed. a mixture of various kinds of seeds for feeding cagebirds

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of birdseed

First recorded in 1830–40; bird + seed

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

birdseed

The true gut punch came when I ran into the store for birdseed and walked straight into a wall of school supplies where beach towels and sunscreen had been.

From Salon ● Sep. 21, 2025

Fish & Wildlife Service has estimated are birders, with many investing seriously in their passion by purchasing birdseed and bird watching accessories.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 30, 2024

In the suburbs, turkeys can take advantage of edge habitat, like woods and open spaces, and dine on a never-ending buffet of food provided by people—particularly birdseed.

From National Geographic ● Nov. 20, 2023

People often put birdseed near windows, too, to watch from the comfort of home.

From Slate ● Dec. 6, 2022

How could a seasoned author like John Keegan, a man who shows frequent flashes of writerly flair, serve as a model of incoherent writing, comparing badly with a guy who sells birdseed on Cape Cod?

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023