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Synonyms

harrier

1 American  
[har-ee-er] / ˈhær i ər /

noun

  1. a person who or thing that harries.

  2. any of several short-winged hawks of the genus Circus that hunt over meadows and marshes and prey on reptiles and small birds and mammals.

  3. Military. Harrier, a one- or two-seat British-American fighter, both an attack and a reconnaissance aircraft, featuring a turbofan engine with a directable thrust that enables it to land and take off vertically.

harrier 2 American  
[har-ee-er] / ˈhær i ər /

noun

  1. one of a breed of medium-sized hounds, used, usually in packs, in hunting.

  2. a cross-country runner.

harrier 1 British  
/ ˈhærɪə /

noun

  1. a person or thing that harries

  2. any diurnal bird of prey of the genus Circus, having broad wings and long legs and tail and typically preying on small terrestrial animals: family Accipitridae (hawks, etc) See also marsh harrier Montagu's harrier

"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
harrier 2 British  
/ ˈhærɪə /

noun

  1. a smallish breed of hound used originally for hare-hunting

  2. a cross-country runner

"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
Harrier 3 British  
/ ˈhærɪə /

noun

  1. a British subsonic multipurpose military jet plane capable of vertical takeoff and landing by means of vectoring the engine thrust

"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 harrier1

First recorded in 1550–60; harry + -er 1

Origin of harrier2

1535–45; special use of harrier 1, by association with hare

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.

For 30 minutes we watch a northern harrier on the hunt, dive-bombing blue-winged and cinnamon teal, though he always comes up empty.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

The bog is an important site for biodiversity and is home to the endangered hen harrier.

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2025

“The harrier has landed,” exclaimed a volunteer on a Sunday bird walk at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park.

From Washington Post • Dec. 11, 2019

Emmy the harrier is crazy for ice cubes.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2018

The Golden Hind, with her sails spread to the wind, sought for the Glory like a harrier for its quarry.

From Pioneers of the Pacific Coast A Chronicle of Sea Rovers and Fur Hunters by Laut, Agnes C. (Agnes Christina)

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.