Cardinalis

noun

Car·​di·​na·​lis ˌkär-də-ˈna-ləs 

-ˈnā-

: a genus of New World passerine birds (family Cardinalidae) consisting of the cardinals (see cardinal entry 2 sense 5a)

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!