rooster
Americannoun
-
the male of domestic fowl and certain game birds; cock.
-
a representation of this bird, used as an emblem of the Democratic Party from 1842 to 1874.
-
Informal. a cocky person.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of rooster
Explanation
A rooster is a male chicken. If your cute baby chick grows up to crow loudly first thing every morning, he's probably a rooster. The word rooster is an American invention, inspired by the rooster's habit of roosting, or standing up on a perch while sleeping or while on the lookout for danger. In the UK, a rooster is more likely to be called a cock or cockerel. In a flock of birds, the rooster's job is to defend the chickens and their nests from predators and other roosters.
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.
But who could resist these workhorses with models named the Rooster and Baby Ben?
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
Greg is the best-selling author of a series of airport novels featuring a swaggering hero called Rooster.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026
Dell Rooster -Dell Rooster is one of those brunch spots where every bite feels like a promise for more — you might even want to come back for dinner.
From Salon • Sep. 29, 2025
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the area where the accident occurred is near a rock feature known as Rooster Rock, which has an underwater drop-off more than 300ft deep.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2025
Do you hear Rose and June cackling in Rooster Jim's yard?
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
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.
