house sparrow

noun

: a sparrow (Passer domesticus) native to Eurasia that has been introduced worldwide and is found especially in urban and agricultural areas

called also English sparrow

Examples of house sparrow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
For instance, in the U.K., the decline of house sparrows robs landscapes of the beloved sight and sound of a once ubiquitous species. Jared Del Rosso, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2024 Found at the beginning of the Iraq War in 2003, this nest demonstrates female house sparrows’ preference for nesting in holes. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024 Suburban residents might even recognize the house sparrow’s nest, perhaps having seen it under their roof eaves. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024 Despite their abundance, house sparrows are not native to North America and were introduced from Europe in the mid-1800s. Cecilia Garzella, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for house sparrow 

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of house sparrow was in 1653

Dictionary Entries Near house sparrow

Cite this Entry

“House sparrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/house%20sparrow. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

house sparrow

noun
: a sparrow native to Europe and Asia that has been introduced into and now occurs widely in the New World

called also English sparrow

More from Merriam-Webster on house sparrow

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