tern

noun

ˈtərn How to pronounce tern (audio)
: any of various chiefly marine birds (subfamily Sterninae of the family Laridae and especially genus Sterna) that differ from the related gulls in usually smaller size, a more slender build, a sharply pointed bill, narrower wings, and an often forked tail

Illustration of tern

Illustration of tern

Examples of tern 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.
The tern is in pursuit of the sun as it shifts over the Earth with the change in the seasons. — Kate Siber, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025 The ribbons also help bird-watchers keep track of the white terns, as does an online map. — ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026 And in turn the seabirds, terns, frigatebirds, and boobies, feed on those surfacing fish. — Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2026 The most endangered is the New Zealand fairy tern, tara iti, with a population of less than 50, including 10 breeding females. — Tom Page, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tern

Word History

Etymology

of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish terne tern

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tern was in 1678

Phrases Containing tern

Rhymes for tern

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Browse Nearby Words

term-trotter
tern
terna
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Cite this Entry

“Tern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tern. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tern

noun
ˈtərn How to pronounce tern (audio)
: any of numerous sea birds that often have a forked tail, black cap, and white or gray body and that in comparison to the related gulls have a smaller and slenderer body and bill and narrower wings

More from Merriam-Webster on tern

Nglish: Translation of tern for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tern

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