roadrunner

noun

road·​run·​ner ˈrōd-ˌrə-nər How to pronounce roadrunner (audio)
: a largely terrestrial bird (Geococcyx californianus) of the cuckoo family that has a long tail and a crest, is a speedy runner, and inhabits arid regions from the southwestern U.S. to Mexico
also : a closely related bird (G. velox) of Mexico and Central America

Illustration of roadrunner

Illustration of roadrunner

Examples of roadrunner 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 Sonoran Desert, which covers much of the southwestern United States, is a vast expanse of arid earth where cartoonish entities—roadrunners, tumbleweeds, telephone-pole-tall succulents—make occasional appearances. Alice Gregory, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024 Bennett pounded out a game-high 11 hits and that doesn’t count the first solid hit on Edmonton roadrunner Connor McDavid, spilling McDavid as the Oilers rush went offside at the Panthers line. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 June 2024 A week ago, in Barcelona, Nadal basically called it a day after losing the first set to Alex de Minaur, the increasingly powerful Australian roadrunner who reached the top 10 earlier this year. Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 27 Apr. 2024 Even at a club able to sign just about any roadrunner on the transfer market, the Croatian remains the gold standard for his club and country in this facet. Henry Flynn, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for roadrunner 

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of roadrunner was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near roadrunner

Cite this Entry

“Roadrunner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roadrunner. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

roadrunner

noun
road·​run·​ner ˈrō-ˌdrən-ər How to pronounce roadrunner (audio)
: a long-tailed ground-dwelling bird of the southwestern U.S. that usually travels by running

called also chaparral bird, chaparral cock

More from Merriam-Webster on roadrunner

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