hornbill

noun

horn·​bill ˈhȯrn-ˌbil How to pronounce hornbill (audio)
: any of a family (Bucerotidae) of large nonpasserine birds of Africa and Eurasia having enormous bills

Illustration of hornbill

Illustration of hornbill

Examples of hornbill 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.
The second phase of Elephant Trek will open in spring 2025 and will include habitats for siamangs, babirusa, rhinoceros hornbills and small-clawed otters. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 1 Oct. 2024 Sylvester, the zoo's sole rhinoceros hornbill, flies over to greet him. Joan Meiners, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2024 Home to over 200 species of birds, guests can uncover a world of flora and fauna just steps away from their room and spot native species, such as talkative Oriental pied hornbills and endearing dusky leaf monkeys (sometimes, in the right season, with adorable babies in tow). Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024 Then there's a fennec fox, a skunk, four prairie dogs, a ton of parrots, hornbills, toucans, cockatoos and a bunch of tortoises. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 13 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hornbill 

Word History

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hornbill was in 1773

Dictionary Entries Near hornbill

Cite this Entry

“Hornbill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hornbill. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

hornbill

noun
horn·​bill -ˌbil How to pronounce hornbill (audio)
: any of a family of large Old World birds having enormous bills

More from Merriam-Webster on hornbill

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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