poultry

noun

poul·​try ˈpōl-trē How to pronounce poultry (audio)
: domesticated birds kept for eggs or meat

Examples of poultry in a Sentence

This wine goes well with poultry.
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.
Minnesota has had far more cases of avian influenza in poultry — mostly in commercial turkeys. Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 24 Mar. 2025 Line speeds refer to the rate at which animals are slaughtered and processed per minute on production lines in poultry and meatpacking plants. Errol Schweizer, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 Kennedy has also made troubling statements about letting H5N1 avian influenza rip through poultry farms to identify birds that are immune, which scientists say would be devastating to flocks and also ineffective. Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2025 However, all other categories including poultry, pork, milk, and frozen food experienced average price declines. Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for poultry

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pultrie, from Anglo-French pulletrie, from pulleter poulterer, from pullet chicken — more at pullet

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poultry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poultry. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

poultry

noun
poul·​try ˈpōl-trē How to pronounce poultry (audio)
: domesticated birds kept for eggs or meat
Etymology

Middle English pultrie "fowl raised for food," from early French pulletrie (same meaning), from pulleter "one who raises poultry," from pullet "chicken" — related to pullet

More from Merriam-Webster on poultry

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