sparrow

noun

spar·​row ˈsper-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce sparrow (audio)
ˈspa-(ˌ)rō
1
: any of a genus (Passer of the family Passeridae) of small chiefly brownish or grayish Old World oscine songbirds that include some which have been widely introduced
especially : house sparrow
2
: any of numerous finches (family Passeridae) that are New World birds (such as the song sparrow or tree sparrow) resembling the Old World sparrows
sparrowlike
ˈsper-(ˌ)ō-ˌlīk How to pronounce sparrow (audio)
-ə-ˌlīk;
ˈspa-(ˌ)rō-ˌlīk
-rə-ˌlīk
adjective

Examples of sparrow 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.
At the banding station, researchers regularly interact with 10 warbler species, 17 species of sparrows, nine species of flycatchers and six species of hummingbirds. Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025 A little sparrow, who comes and goes, never staying too long but always leaving a trace of light and freedom. Katie Bain, Billboard, 7 Apr. 2025 House sparrows prefer to be near humans, so place a birdhouse away from the house and avoid feeding smaller seeds like millet, cracked corn, and milo, which sparrows love. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2025 Poem 3 is playful: a mock-heroic eulogy for the sparrow, now dead, whom the poet blames for making his sweetheart’s eyes swollen and red—one of a very few references to Lesbia’s physical appearance. Daniel Mendelsohn, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sparrow

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sparow, from Old English spearwa; akin to Old High German sparo sparrow

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sparrow was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sparrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sparrow. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

sparrow

noun
spar·​row ˈspar-ō How to pronounce sparrow (audio)
1
: any of several small songbirds that have usually brownish or grayish feathers and are related to the finches
especially : house sparrow
2
: any of numerous finches (as the song sparrow) that resemble the true sparrows

More from Merriam-Webster on sparrow

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