seagull
Americannoun
noun
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a popular name for gull 1
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a casual wharf labourer who is not a trade-union member
Etymology
Origin of seagull
Explanation
A seagull is a common, noisy shorebird. If a bird swoops down and steals your French fries as you're walking along the boardwalk, it was probably a seagull. Although the large gray and white birds that follow lobster boats and congregate on beaches are officially called gulls, most people use the colloquial seagull. These sea birds have wide wingspans and webbed feet. They live in large groups and thrive alongside humans, scavenging trash and food waste in addition to eating fish and crustaceans. Described as "opportunistic feeders," seagulls are also highly adept at stealing the fish and chips right off your tray.
Vocabulary lists containing seagull
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.
The seagull reportedly suffered a damaged wing but it was not immediately clear what happened to it after the match.
From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026
A footballer acted on a wing and a prayer when he gave emergency CPR to a seagull after it was hit by a ball during a match in Istanbul this week -- reviving the bird.
From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026
Ross said he had made several attempts to raise a question about a seagull summit – which took place behind closed doors at NatureScot's headquarters – throughout the week, without success.
From BBC • Sep. 20, 2025
“She really saved my life,” he said of Becker, whose name Bernthal has lovingly tattooed on his forearm, along with the emblem for the Moscow Art Theatre, a seagull in flight.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2025
These thoughts were broken up by a flurry of wingbeats, and a seagull landed on the roof.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
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.
