peafowl

American  

[pee-faul] / ˈpiˌfaʊl /

noun

• peafowls,
  plural
• peafowl
  plural

1. any of several gallinaceous birds of the genera Pavo, of India, Sri Lanka, southeastern Asia, and the East Indies, and Afropavo, of Africa.

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peafowl British  

/ ˈpiːˌfaʊl /

noun

1. either of two large pheasants, Pavo cristatus ( blue peafowl ) of India and Ceylon and P. muticus ( green peafowl ) of SE Asia. The males (peacocks) have a characteristic bright plumage See peacock

2. a rare closely related African species, Afropavo congensis ( Congo peafowl ), both sexes of which are brightly coloured

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• peafowl
  plural
• peafowls
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of peafowl

First recorded in 1795–1805; pea ( see peacock) + fowl

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

peafowl peafowls

A new owner purchased the property 14 years ago and brought with him a peafowl and peahen, said Nielsen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2025

Peacocks in Pittencrieff Park is staffed by volunteers and funded by public donations, and Suzi now has the grand job title of "lead peafowl warden".

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2024

In the affluent village of Pinecrest, the peafowl found larger lots with plenty of greenery that were far more to their liking.

From New York Times ● Aug. 9, 2023

Nearly 100 peafowl walk freely around the zoo’s grounds.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 27, 2023

I looked up as I ran under some trees, other­wise peafowl might excrete on me.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

In a phone interview, the 10-year-old said she’ll see two to three peafowls on a typical walk to school and believes they make South Pasadena special.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2023

Two months after the public forum, the fate of Monterey Hills’ peafowls was sealed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2023

Over the years nonnative visitors have included the mourning gecko, domestic ducks, cattle egrets, parakeets, peafowls and grackles.

From Scientific American ● Nov. 1, 2017

The school has an agricultural program and many animals on its campus, including, as it turns out, two peafowls.

From New York Times ● Aug. 22, 2012

In India it is a universal belief among sportsmen that wherever peafowls are common, there tiger will be found.

From Camps and Trails in China A Narrative of Exploration, Adventure, and Sport in Little-Known China by Roy Chapman Andrews

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