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

Amid a global energy crisis that has already led to fuel rationing in some Asian countries, cautious Roadrunner fans see investor complacency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

It’s like the Roadrunner cartoon where they’re just falling off the cliff waiting for the boom at the bottom.

From Slate • Feb. 14, 2025

But Luckey sees Roadrunner as a milestone on the path to primehood.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2023

Leon himself is a bit like the Roadrunner, evading obstacles such as a giant robot version of the short-statured castle lord, Ramon Salazar.

From Washington Post • Mar. 17, 2023

I seemed to hover in midair for a moment, like Wile E. Coyote in the old Roadrunner cartoons.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline