egret

American  

[ee-grit, eg-rit, ee-gret, ee-gret] / ˈi grɪt, ˈɛg rɪt, iˈgrɛt, ˈi grɛt /

noun

egrets plural

1. any of several usually white herons that grow long, graceful plumes during the breeding season, as Egretta garzetta little egret, of the Old World.

2. aigrette.

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egret British  

/ ˈiːɡrɪt /

noun

1. any of various wading birds of the genera Egretta, Hydranassa, etc, that are similar to herons but usually have a white plumage and, in the breeding season, long feathery plumes: family Ardeidae, order Ciconiiformes See also aigrette

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• egrets
  plural

Etymology

Origin of egret

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English egret(e), from Anglo-French egret (compare Middle French égreste aigrette ), alteration (with -on exchanged for -et -et ) of dialectal Old French aigron, from Germanic; see heron

Explanation

An egret is a white bird with long legs, usually found wading along marshy shorelines. Egrets are expert fishers and sometimes even use sticks and insects to draw fish closer before gobbling them up. Egret comes from the French aigrette, which means "silver heron" and also "brush," which describes the plumes of white feathers that appear on an egret's back during the breeding season. These birds, many of which are bright white, are a type of heron. They hunt for fish in both freshwater and saltwater, wading through the shallows on their long legs.

Example Sentences

Egret feathers commanded double their weight in gold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Occasionally, I’ll pick up a breakfast wrap or breakfast burrito at this spot called Angry Egret.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2023

At Angry Egret Dinette in Los Angeles, ambitious food with freewheeling charm and unfussy service.

From New York Times • Jul. 5, 2022

Yockey has penned two small supporting parts: Gray Mole and White Egret, here played by Ahmad Kamal and Sara Dabney Tisdale, and the actors recite the verse tale as Patrick Lord’s storybook projections play out.

From Washington Post • May 24, 2016

For some minutes I watched the four birds toiling upwards with a wild zigzag flight, while the Egret, still rising vertically, seemed to leave them hopelessly far behind.

From Argentine Ornithology, Volume II (of 2) A descriptive catalogue of the birds of the Argentine Republic. by Hudson, W. H. (William Henry)