magpie

1 of 2

noun

mag·​pie ˈmag-ˌpī How to pronounce magpie (audio)
1
: any of various birds (especially Pica pica) related to the jays but having a long graduated tail and black-and-white or brightly colored plumage
2
: a person who chatters noisily
3
: one who collects indiscriminately

Illustration of magpie

Illustration of magpie
  • magpie 1

magpie

2 of 2

adjective

1
: collected indiscriminately : miscellaneous
magpie compilations of unrelated tidbitsHelen R. Cross
2
: given to indiscriminate collecting : acquisitive
what possible magpie instinct had impelled me to retain themS. J. Perelman

Examples of magpie in a Sentence

Noun media magpies will no doubt seize upon the president's latest gaffe and blow it all out of proportion Adjective a pack rat whose cramped apartment is filled with a magpie collection of books, old newspapers, and tchotchkes
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The skull also had similarities to two waterfowl lineages—South American screamers and the Australian magpie goose. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2024 Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata – Loud and colorful, these magpies will eat almost anything. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Apr. 2024
Adjective
The aloof downtown intellectual, named Luc by her Belgian parents, is a poetic essayist with a magpie mind and a talent for archive spelunking. Carl Swanson, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2024 The language and structure of King’s sermons, tapping into this magpie tradition of oral performance, had many sources. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for magpie 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'magpie.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Mag (nickname for Margaret) + pie entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of magpie was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near magpie

Cite this Entry

“Magpie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magpie. Accessed 16 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

magpie

noun
mag·​pie
ˈmag-ˌpī
1
: any of various noisy birds related to the jays but having a long tail and black-and-white feathers
2
: a person who chatters constantly

More from Merriam-Webster on magpie

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