roadrunner

American  

[rohd-ruhn-er] / ˈroʊdˌrʌn ər /

noun

1. either of two large terrestrial cuckoos of the genus Geococcyx of arid regions of the western U.S., Mexico, and Central America, especially G. californianus greater roadrunner.

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roadrunner British  

/ ˈrəʊdˌrʌnə /

noun

1. Also called: chaparral cock.  a terrestrial crested bird, Geococcyx californianus , of Central and S North America, having a streaked plumage and long tail: family Cuculidae (cuckoos)

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Etymology

Origin of roadrunner

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; road + runner

Compare meaning

How does roadrunner compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• roadrunner vs. rattlesnake

Explanation

With its long tail, distinctive crest, and fierce eyes, the fast-running bird called a roadrunner resembles a mini meat-eating dinosaur as it races along the ground to catch its prey. Found in the deserts of the American Southwest and Mexico, the roadrunner is often featured in Native American folklore. It was even a character in a long-running cartoon, where it was shown ever-outsmarting — and outrunning — a coyote in hot pursuit. A roadrunner can’t really outrun a coyote, but it can dart across the desert floor at up to 20 miles per hour! While it can fly, it spends most of its time on the ground, where it chases down insects, lizards, and even small rattlesnakes.

Example Sentences

After that, we visited the newly installed Ricardo Breceda rattlesnake and roadrunner metal sculptures.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2025

Then Jones fled the stage, leaving in his wake a few exhalations that lingered like dust clouds from a cartoon roadrunner: “I am so sorry — I cannot do this. Thank you so much.”

From New York Times • Apr. 1, 2022

Despite dementia, Eugenia Peralta, 89, cannot help but twirl around the room, prompting her peers to call her "roadrunner," according to her daughter Jackie Peralta.

From Reuters • Mar. 10, 2022

The greater roadrunner, a species native to Southwestern states, hitched a ride in the storage area of a moving van from Las Vegas to Westbrook, Maine.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 16, 2021

A roadrunner chased a small lizard from the left side in front of our traveling animal cavalcade.

From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen