magpie

American  

[mag-pahy] / ˈmægˌpaɪ /

noun

• magpies
  plural

1. either of two corvine birds, Pica pica black-billed magpie, of Eurasia and North America, or P. nuttalli yellow-billed magpie, of California, having long, graduated tails, black-and-white plumage, and noisy, mischievous habits.

2. any of several related corvine birds.

3. any of several black-and-white birds not related to the true magpies, as Gymnorhina tibicen, of Australia.

4. an incessantly talkative person; noisy chatterer; chatterbox.

5. a person who collects or hoards things, especially indiscriminately.

6. Western U.S. a black-and-white cow or steer, as a Holstein.

---

magpie British  

/ ˈmæɡˌpaɪ /

noun

1. any of various passerine birds of the genus Pica, esp P. pica, having a black-and-white plumage, long tail, and a chattering call: family Corvidae (crows, etc)

2. any of various similar birds of the Australian family Cracticidae See also butcherbird

3. any of various other similar or related birds

4. (often capital) a variety of domestic fancy pigeon typically having black-and-white markings

5. a person who hoards small objects

6. a person who chatters

7. 1. the outmost ring but one on a target

   2. a shot that hits this ring

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• magpies
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of magpie

1595–1605; Mag Margaret + pie ²

---

Explanation

A magpie is a loud-voiced black and white bird. If someone calls you a magpie, you should probably quiet down. The magpie is a distinctive looking bird, with glossy black and brilliant white markings. Its sound is nearly as striking, famously noisy and almost jarring. This has led to another meaning of magpie, "someone who talks obnoxiously." You might describe your chatterbox neighbor as a magpie — and the word itself comes from the nickname Mag, short for Margaret and commonly used in slang English to mean "idle chattering."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

magpie magpies

“You can be in a sort of magpie mode where you’re always looking for things to use, and spiriting those things back to your creative process,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

The Franco-Belgian couturier referenced the extravagant plumage of a roseate spoonbill or the crested cockatoo alongside the humble crow, grey pigeon and magpie.

From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026

In November 2024, Louise Gather travelled from her home in Derby to Bradgate Park, Leicester in search of magpie inkcaps - a rare kind of fungus.

From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2026

Historians have interpreted this as the era’s political satire: the magpie, audacious in the presence of a great predator, represented the common man standing up to the nobility.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2025

A robin, I saw, a woodpecker, a magpie, a blackbird, and far off I think I heard a nightingale, though I’m not sure you get them in January.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

The difference also appeared across all 37 bird species examined, including easily startled magpies and pigeons that typically allow people to approach much more closely.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

Then, a mischief of magpies began a ruckus, chattering and hopping from branch to branch of a scraggly tree.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026

It has also been observed in certain animals, including chimpanzees, dolphins, and magpies.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 15, 2025

Minhwa is a style of Korean folk art popular during the Chosun era, with the Hojak-do genre specializing in images of tigers, magpies and pine trees.

From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2025

As he opened the heavy door and stepped out of the porch into the sunlight, two magpies rose up from the gate, and flapped through the air above his head.

From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• debater
• orator

---