frigate bird

noun

: any of a family (Fregatidae, containing a single genus Fregata) of tropical seabirds having a forked tail and large wingspans that are noted for aggressively taking food from other birds

Illustration of frigate bird

Illustration of frigate bird

Examples of frigate bird 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.
Squadrons of frigate birds riding currents high above the bungalows. — Mark Gauert, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2024 Nearby, a humpback mom and calf pop up, and rare birds such as blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds perch on nearby island cliffs. — Michele Bigley, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Dec. 2025 This sustains plankton at the bottom of the food chain — an effect that's intensified during a La Niña. Pelicans and a soaring frigate bird circle fishermen in the waters around Santa Fe Island in the Galápagos, presumably hoping for a free hand-out of fish. — Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023 Wooden boats bobbed in long rows, their names and registration numbers hand-painted on the hulls, as men in neon vests unloaded catch and frigate birds swooped down to pick at the scraps. — Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026 From magnificent frigate birds soaring in the skies above to sea lions and marine iguanas cruising the nutrient-rich waters, and of course the iconic blue-footed boobys littering the island trails. — Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 Sleeping at sea Some animals have unusual evolutionary adaptations to fit in sleep while avoiding predators and other risks, such as sleep-chewing cows, sleep-standing horses and frigate birds that can sleep and fly at the same time. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 20 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frigate bird was in 1738

Rhymes for frigate bird

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Browse Nearby Words

frigate
frigate bird
frigate-built
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Cite this Entry

“Frigate bird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frigate%20bird. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

frigate bird

noun
: any of several seabirds noted for their power of flight and the habit of robbing other birds of fish

called also man-o'-war bird

More from Merriam-Webster on frigate bird

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about frigate bird

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