condor

American  

[kon-der, -dawr] / ˈkɒn dər, -dɔr /

noun

1. either of two large, New World vultures of the family Cathartidae, Gymnogyps californianus California condor or Vultur gryphus Andean condor, the largest flying birds in the Western Hemisphere: the California condor is almost extinct; the Andean condor is greatly reduced in number and rare in many areas.

2. a former coin of Chile equal to 10 pesos.

3. a former coin of Ecuador equal to 10 sucres.

---

condor British  

/ ˈkɒndɔː /

noun

1. either of two very large rare New World vultures, Vultur gryphus ( Andean condor ), which has black plumage with white around the neck, and Gymnogyps californianus ( California condor ), which is similar but nearly extinct

---

Etymology

Origin of condor

First recorded in 1595–1605; from South American Spanish, from Quechua kuntur

Compare meaning

How does condor compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• condor vs. vulture

Explanation

A condor is a vulture with a huge wingspan. The California condor has been reintroduced after being declared extinct in the wild in 1987. There are two species of condor, the Andean condor and the California condor. Both are enormous vultures that feed on carrion. Since a captive breeding program and conservation efforts allowed their return to the wild, there are about 500 California condors living today. It's the largest land bird in North America, with a wingspan of up to nearly ten feet. The word condor is derived from the Quechua word for the bird, kuntur.

Example Sentences

For example, when hiking in Cucamonga, you might spot bighorn sheep, while Magic Mountain is occasionally host to a California condor passing through.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2025

This week, the focus is on 10 condor chicks that were hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo, making them eligible to be released into the wild to help restore the state’s depleted condor population.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2025

From above, a soaring condor scans the terrain and spots easy pickings -- the remains left after hunters have shot a deer, wild pig or some other game animal.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2025

This bumper year of condor babies is the result of a modification to a rearing technique pioneered at the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2024

He pointed to the stars in the uppermost sky, drawing the shape of the condor in flight with his fingers.

From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis