pelican
Americannoun
-
any of several large, totipalmate, fish-eating birds of the family Pelecanidae, having a large bill with a distensible pouch.
-
a still or retort with two tubes that leave the body from the neck, curve in opposite directions, and reenter the body through the belly.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pelican
before 1000; Middle English pellican, Old English < Late Latin pelicānus, variant of pelecān < Greek pelekā́n
Explanation
A pelican is a huge waterbird with an enormous pouch under its long beak. Pelicans prefer warm places, and Florida is a great place to see both white and brown varieties. Pelican comes from Greek roots, pelekan and pelekys, "ax," which somewhat describes the shape of a pelican's bill, with its downturned hook at the end. The most distinctive thing about a pelican is its throat pouch, which it efficiently uses to scoop up fish and drain water before swallowing. The brown pelican is the state bird of Louisiana, a fact that inspired the name of New Orleans' NBA team, the Pelicans.
Vocabulary lists containing pelican
Birds, Birds, Birds, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 4
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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:
“Would you consider an amendment to add the pelican as a co-official state bird?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
A pelican suspected to have died from H5N1 avian influenza is seen on a beach in Lima, on December 1, 2022.
From Salon ● Jun. 19, 2024
The California brown pelican was listed as an endangered species decades ago after the spread of the chemical DDT caused the shells of their eggs to thin.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2024
Work to install a signalled pelican crossing started on Saturday, slightly ahead of schedule.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2023
The other is lying like it doesn’t care on the branch, like the pelican doesn’t believe that actions have consequences—which he doesn’t.
From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
But experts warn the sprawling salt flats of Montenegro's Ulcinj salina, a vital stop-off for migrating flamingos, pelicans and other species, is fading fast.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
In 2024, the street artist created an animal trail around the capital with pieces featuring a goat, elephants, a gorilla, monkeys, piranhas, a rhino and pelicans among other animals.
From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026
In 2024, the graffiti artist created an animal trail around the capital with pieces featuring a goat, elephants, a gorilla, monkeys, piranhas, a rhino and pelicans among other animals.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2025
A flock of brown pelicans waddled back into the wild on Wednesday morning, survivors of Southern California’s latest toxic algal bloom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2025
“That’s nice, Captain. That’s very nice. That’s a gentleman’s school, sure enough. Why didn’t you fly with the pelicans like the rest of your classmates?”
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
