homing instinct

noun

: an ability to return home from a great distance
an animal with a homing instinct

Examples of homing instinct 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.
Notably, female sea turtles exhibit a strong homing instinct, often returning to the exact beach where they were born to lay their own eggs. Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024 Burrowing owls have a homing instinct that gives them a tendency to return to where they were born, explained Christina Schaefer, a private biologist and conservancy board member. Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2024

Dictionary Entries Near homing instinct

Cite this Entry

“Homing instinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homing%20instinct. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!