mute swan

American  

noun

1. a commonly domesticated soundless white swan, Cygnus olor, of Europe and Asia.

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mute swan British  

noun

1. a Eurasian swan, Cygnus olor, with a pure white plumage, an orange-red bill with a black base, and a curved neck Compare whistling swan

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Etymology

Origin of mute swan

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mute swan

A mute swan is less vocal than other swan species, though not completely silent, and are present year-round.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2025

Some of these waterfowl hit remarkable sizes: The Pleistocene giant swan of Malta, which some researchers have suggested was land-bound, was 30 percent larger than a living mute swan.

From New York Times ● Apr. 29, 2022

Alfie the mute swan may be the world's first jet-ski refugee.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2021

A mute swan swam past on the way back to its nest, and two catbirds scavenged the ground, pecking in the gathering darkness.

From The New Yorker ● Aug. 27, 2019

Spoilt for choice we went with this mute swan from Alison Brown to represent the seven swans-a-swimming.

From BBC ● Dec. 25, 2013