goldeneye

noun

gold·​en·​eye ˈgōl-dən-ˌī How to pronounce goldeneye (audio)
1
: either of two diving ducks (genus Bucephala) with small yellow eyes
especially : a large-headed swift-flying Holarctic diving duck (B. clangula) with the male having a green head and striking black-and-white markings
2
: a lacewing (family Chrysopidae) with yellow eyes

Examples of goldeneye 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.
Common goldeneye dive down the water column and gobble up all the pupae attached to microbialite structures. — Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Nov. 2022 Those wishing to target buffleheads, or for that matter, canvasbacks or goldeneyes, should set a handful of drake bufflehead decoys off to one side of the spread. — M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 30 Nov. 2023 Monsoons bring out a yellow phase with goldeneye, golden crownbeard, yellow coreopsis, and sunflowers. — Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 Four black vultures in Deerfield, a Barrow’s goldeneye at at the Barton Cove campground, a rough-legged hawk and 40 snow buntings in Montague and 28 rusty blackbirds in Sunderland. — Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Feb. 2023 October 2022 found areas of the Anza-Borrego Desert painted with thick bunches of yellow goldeneye flowers, carpets of yellow chinchweed and clusters of purple sand verbena sweeping over undulating sand dunes along Highway S-22 heading toward Salton Sea. — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of goldeneye was in 1622

Rhymes for goldeneye

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Browse Nearby Words

golden elder
goldeneye
golden-eyed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Goldeneye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goldeneye. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on goldeneye

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about goldeneye

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