oystercatcher

noun

oys·​ter·​catch·​er ˈȯi-stər-ˌka-chər How to pronounce oystercatcher (audio)
-ˌke-
: any of a family (Haematopodidae containing a single genus Haematopus) of wading birds that have stout legs, a heavy wedge-shaped bill, and often black-and-white plumage

Illustration of oystercatcher

Illustration of oystercatcher

Examples of oystercatcher 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.
Sea thrift and marram grass fringe the dunes—while oystercatchers tiptoe along the tideline. — Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025 Keep an eye out for New Zealand dotterels and variable oystercatchers, which nest in the dunes. — Madeline Bilis, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026 Unlike most shorebird babies, young oystercatchers can’t feed themselves right away. — Molly Duerig, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025 In my youth, American oystercatchers were a common sight along the local oyster bars. — Clay Henderson, AZCentral.com, 13 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oystercatcher

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oystercatcher was in 1731

Rhymes for oystercatcher

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Browse Nearby Words

oysterbird
oystercatcher
oyster crab
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Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

oyster catcher

noun
: any of several wading birds with stout legs, a heavy wedge-shaped bill, and often black and white plumage

More from Merriam-Webster on oystercatcher

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oystercatcher

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