pheasant

American  

[fez-uhnt] / ˈfɛz ənt /

noun

• pheasants
  plural

1. any of numerous large, usually long-tailed, Old World gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, widely introduced.

2. any of various other birds that resemble or suggest a pheasant.

3. Southern U.S. the ruffed grouse.

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pheasant British  

/ ˈfɛzənt /

noun

1. any of various long-tailed gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, esp Phasianus colchicus ( ring-necked pheasant ), having a brightly-coloured plumage in the male: native to Asia but introduced elsewhere

2. any of various other gallinaceous birds of the family Phasianidae, including the quails and partridges

3. any of several other gallinaceous birds, esp the ruffed grouse

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pheasants
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pheasant

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English fesaunt, from Anglo-French; Old French fesan, from Latin phāsiānus, from Greek phāsiānós (órnis) “(bird) of the Phasis,” a river in the Caucasus

Explanation

A pheasant is a wild bird with long tail feathers. Pheasants were first introduced to North America in the 1700s, and they've become a popular game bird for hunters. Pheasants are native to Asia, but they've existed in the U.S. for about 200 years. You can easily tell if a pheasant is a male — its coloring will be bright and showy, and it may have a wattle and an extremely long tail. Females tend to be smaller, with brown and white striped feathers. The midwestern states are popular with pheasant hunters, since the birds are plentiful there.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pheasant pheasants

In theory she is dressed for pheasant shooting on the hills of the castle estate but in practice it is all in the name of fashion.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

Schwarzman, who usually arrives by helicopter, also bought the farm next door to host pheasant and partridge shoots.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2025

I covered Gov. Walz on his pheasant hunt last fall when he was a vice presidential candidate.

From Slate ● Jun. 17, 2025

“I’m of an age where my shotgun was in my car so I could pheasant hunt after football practice,” said Walz, explaining why he changed his views on gun control.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2024

“I could get a pheasant, or a woodcock.”

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway

The shipment of animals from Moscow also included two yaks, five cockatoos and dozens of pheasants as well as mandarin ducks, Kozlov's office said.

From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2024

And many times my brother and I would have to go out and hunt for our dinner — rabbits, pheasants, squirrels and other food that we could find.

From Salon ● Dec. 21, 2023

At the heart of the tablescape, a grouping of three risers elevates the centerpiece, featuring a harmonious blend of pumpkins and pheasants at varying heights.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 3, 2023

Others, however, like those from pheasants and macaws, are still being held.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2023

While we scurried to finish the house, and the cook butchered the turtles and plucked the pheasants, the hairdresser arrived to tend to Madam.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• chicken
• duck
• fowl
• geese
• pigeon