toucan

noun

tou·​can ˈtü-ˌkan How to pronounce toucan (audio)
-ˌkän, 
tü-ˈkan, 
-ˈkän How to pronounce toucan (audio)
: any of a family (Ramphastidae) of chiefly fruit-eating birds of tropical America with brilliant coloring and a very large but light and thin-walled bill

Examples of toucan 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.
Birds from both environments, like scarlet macaws, toucans and herons, live here. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 27 May 2026 That mechanical skill is part of what makes toucans irreplaceable in this ecosystem. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026 Macaws, toucans and tanagers are among Colombia's 1,900 avian species, more than any other country. — John Otis, NPR, 30 May 2026 Overhead, territorial howler monkeys announced our presence, toucans flashed in and out of the canopy, and the electric hum of cicadas filled the air. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for toucan

Word History

Etymology

French, from Portuguese tucano, from Tupi tukána

First Known Use

1568, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toucan was in 1568

Rhymes for toucan

See All Rhymes for toucan

Browse Nearby Words

Toubkal, Jebel
toucan
toucanet
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

toucan

noun
tou·​can ˈtü-ˌkan How to pronounce toucan (audio) tü-ˈkan How to pronounce toucan (audio)
: any of a family of mostly fruit-eating birds of tropical America with brilliant coloring and a very large but light bill

More from Merriam-Webster on toucan

Nglish: Translation of toucan for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about toucan

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