robin

noun

rob·​in ˈrä-bən How to pronounce robin (audio)
plural robins
1
: a large North American thrush (Turdus migratorius) with brownish-gray upperparts, blackish head and tail, black and whitish streaked throat, and dull reddish breast and underparts

called also American robin

2
a
: a small chiefly European Old World flycatcher (Erithacus rubecula) having a brownish-olive back and orangish face and breast
b
: any of various Old World songbirds that are related to or resemble the European robin

Examples of robin 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.
These teams already had an intense first meeting in the round robin, starting off with three fights in the first nine seconds of the 3-1 USA victory. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025 By The New York Times Wearing a crown of ivy, mistletoe, hellebore and rosemary, the queen used a toasting fork to place the bread in the branches — a gesture designed to attract robins, which are seen as harbingers of spring — before shotguns were fired to drive away malevolent spirits. Stephen Castle, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025 Vintage Tennis: Round robin matches for men and women 60 or older. Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2025 Related Articles Watch: Two whales play in ocean steps from California and a crowd on the sand Why does this robin insist on repeatedly flying into my glass door? Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for robin

Word History

Etymology

akin to Dutch dialect robijntje linnet, Frisian robyntsje

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of robin was circa 1550

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Robin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robin. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

robin

noun
rob·​in ˈräb-ən How to pronounce robin (audio)
1
: a small European thrush with an orange red face, throat, and breast
2
: a large North American thrush with a grayish back and head and a brick red breast

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