osprey
Americannoun
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ospreys
plural
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Also called fish hawk. a large hawk, Pandion haliaetus, that feeds on fish.
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a plume for trimming hats.
noun
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Often called (US and Canadian): fish hawk. a large broad-winged fish-eating diurnal bird of prey, Pandion haliaetus, with a dark back and whitish head and underparts: family Pandioridae
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any of the feathers of various other birds, used esp as trimming for hats
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of osprey
1425–75; late Middle English ospray ( e ) ≪ Latin ossifraga ossifrage; compare Middle French orfraie, offraie, Old French ospres
Explanation
An osprey is a large bird of prey that feeds on fish. If you see a huge bird dive into the water feet-first and emerge with a fish in its talons, it's probably an osprey. Osprey is derived from the Medieval Latin phrase avis prede, "bird of prey." These stunning raptors are found on every continent except Antarctica, and scientists estimate the species is at least 11 million years old. Ospreys are among the animals that usually mate for life, with pairs building their nests on poles or trees beside a body of water, and returning there year after year.
Vocabulary lists containing osprey
National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 3
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Birds, Birds, Birds, List 2
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for May 11–May 17, 2025
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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.
See Examples For:
A record number of osprey chicks have delighted birdwatchers at a nature reserve.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Vanessa Coolidge, 40, said she’s worried about osprey nests that would need to be relocated for the work, but doesn’t believe anyone is listening.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026
Male osprey 022 and female CJ7 have nested at Careys Secret Garden near Wareham, Dorset, since 2022.
From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2026
They, too, were greatly affected by DDT, with the number of osprey nests falling to about 50 five decades ago.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2024
When they were seated, Hester narrow-eyed and impassive beside Lee and the great osprey dæmon glaring into the full sun, Lee began.
From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
Hewitt said he got the volunteering bug during "a wonderful time" helping Operation Osprey when he helped protect the first pair of ospreys to breed in the UK for more than 100 years.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
The first of four juvenile ospreys, hatched as the result of a reintroduction programme in Dorset, has taken flight.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Several new ospreys chicks have hatched in north Wales over the past fortnight, conservationists have announced.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
It has previously been estimated there are about 270 pairs of ospreys in Scotland, about 25 pairs in England and five in Wales.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
I saw that the ospreys were back, arranging sticks on the channel marker for their gigantic nest.
From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings
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.
