peregrine
Americanadjective
-
foreign; alien; coming from abroad.
-
wandering, traveling, or migrating.
noun
adjective
-
coming from abroad
-
travelling or migratory; wandering
Other Word Forms
- peregrinity noun
Etymology
Origin of peregrine
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin peregrīnus foreign, derivative of peregrē abroad, literally, through (i.e., beyond the borders of ) the field, equivalent to per- per- + -egr-, combining form of ager field + -ē adv. suffix; -ine 1
Explanation
A peregrine is a fairly common type of raptor, or hunting bird. While peregrines are about the size of a crow, they are much fiercer predators. You can also call a peregrine a peregrine falcon. In falconry, the training of hawks and falcons for hunting, peregrines are popular. These birds are found everywhere on earth with just a few exceptions. The word peregrine has a Latin root, peregrinus, "coming from foreign parts" — these birds tend to be caught during migration rather than taken from the nest. Peregrine is also used to simply mean "migratory" or "foreign."
Vocabulary lists containing peregrine
A Lexical Zoo of Animal Adjectives
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!
My Side of the Mountain
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!
On the Far Side of the Mountain
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
A 60% mortality rate in the first year means it's a "tough gig" being a young peregrine falcon, Dr Hurley observes, adding that such a rate is common among predators.
From BBC • Nov. 7, 2025
She compares him to a peregrine falcon because “his frame rate operates at an entirely different speed to everybody else’s.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2025
"Breathtaking" footage of what was believed to be a peregrine falcon attempting to hunt during a murmuration of thousands of starlings has been captured on video.
From BBC • Mar. 5, 2025
You might spot a peregrine falcon or other raptor, including kestrels, which nest there.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2024
“Does every single, solitary peregrine have to migrate?”
From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
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.
