plumage

noun

plum·​age ˈplü-mij How to pronounce plumage (audio)
: the feathers of a bird
plumaged
ˈplü-mijd How to pronounce plumage (audio)
adjective

Examples of plumage in a Sentence

The peacock has colorful plumage.
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.
Melting suet turns rancid fast and creates a mess of bird plumage. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 July 2026 Also, with that plumage, literally wears its heart on its chest. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 16 June 2026 Turkey tail grows on dead logs and tree stumps in overlapping layers that resemble a wild bird’s plumage. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026 When a female visits, the male throws objects into her line of sight while flaunting his colorful plumage. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for plumage

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Old French, from plume feather — more at plume

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plumage was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing plumage

Browse Nearby Words

plumach
plumage
plumaged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

plumage

noun
plum·​age ˈplü-mij How to pronounce plumage (audio)
: the feathers of a bird

More from Merriam-Webster on plumage

Nglish: Translation of plumage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plumage

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