heron

¹ American  

[her-uhn] / ˈhɛr ən /

noun

1. any of numerous long-legged, long-necked, usually long-billed birds of the family Ardeidae, including the true herons, egrets, night herons, and bitterns.

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Heron ² American  

[heer-on] / ˈhɪər ɒn /

noun

1. Hero.

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Heron ¹ British  

/ ˈhɪərɒn /

noun

1. same as Hero

2. Patrick. 1920–99, British abstract painter and art critic

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heron ² British  

/ ˈhɛrən /

noun

1. any of various wading birds of the genera Butorides, Ardea, etc, having a long neck, slim body, and a plumage that is commonly grey or white: family Ardeidae, order Ciconiiformes

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Etymology

Origin of heron

1275–1325; Middle English heiro ( u ) n, hero ( u ) n < Middle French hairon ( French héron ) < Germanic; compare Old High German heigir

Example Sentences

"Look at the length of the skull, the length of the neck, and the length of the hind limb -- you're in heron territory."

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Just then a great blue heron flew overhead.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Awkwafina voices a street pigeon named Chump, Keegan-Michael Key is a Jamaican parrot named Delroy and Carol Kane is a heron named Erin.

From New York Times • May 3, 2024

The film centres on a young boy who meets a mysterious speaking heron after losing his mother during World War Two.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2024

A great blue heron squawked at us for making too much noise and, indignant, took off from a nearby bank as we boarded my father’s boat.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings