cockatoo

noun

cock·​a·​too ˈkä-kə-ˌtü How to pronounce cockatoo (audio)
plural cockatoos
: any of various large noisy chiefly Australasian crested parrots (family Cacatuidae and especially genus Cacatua)

Illustration of cockatoo

Illustration of cockatoo

Examples of cockatoo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For instance, the cockatoos in Sydney have learned to open trash bins. — Daniel T. Blumstein, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026 Outside, a single white cockatoo shrieks, closer and louder until the sound of it fills the room like murder. — Literary Hub, 10 Mar. 2026 Observe black cockatoos preen in the drooping she-oaks, or marvel at the Dali-esque outback, filled with its skeletal mallee trees. — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026 Bayern's players lined up wearing cockatoo T-shirts in front of the fans, but there were none of the traditional beer showers that usually accompany league wins. — ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cockatoo

Word History

Etymology

Dutch kaketoe, from Malay kakatua

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cockatoo was in 1634

Rhymes for cockatoo

See All Rhymes for cockatoo

Browse Nearby Words

cockatiel
cockatoo
cockatoo bush
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Cite this Entry

“Cockatoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cockatoo. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cockatoo

noun
cock·​a·​too ˈkäk-ə-ˌtü How to pronounce cockatoo (audio)
plural cockatoos
: any of various large noisy usually showy chiefly Australasian parrots that have a bunch of feathers on the head

More from Merriam-Webster on cockatoo

Nglish: Translation of cockatoo for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cockatoo

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