What does "egret" mean?
Any of various wading birds of the genera Egretta or Ardea that includes herons, many of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season.
Egret
/ˈiːɡɹɪt/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of various wading birds of the genera Egretta or Ardea that includes herons, many of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season.
- Grammar: egret is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: aigret, ardea alba, drapery, great white heron.
- Usage evidence: An American alligator chomps a snowy egret at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida.
How to use "egret"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "egret" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "egret" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "egret" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "egret" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "egret" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aigret" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "egret", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of various wading birds of the genera Egretta or Ardea that includes herons, many of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season.
"Egrets picked their way through the grass, attentive and showy as fussy girlfriends at the cows' sides."
- 2 any of various usually white herons having long plumes during breeding season wordnet
- 3 A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress, or anything imitating such an ornament.
- 4 The flying feathery or hairy crown of seeds or achenes, such as the down of the thistle.
- 5 The crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis) obsolete
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"An American alligator chomps a snowy egret at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "egret"?
Common synonyms include: aigret, ardea alba, drapery, great white heron, magpie, white egret.
How do you use "egret" in a sentence?
An American alligator chomps a snowy egret at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida.
How do you pronounce "egret"?
Pronounced /ˈiːɡɹɪt/.
Etymology
From Middle English, from Anglo-Norman egret, aigrette (“egret”), from Old Occitan aigreta, diminutive of aigron (“heron”), from Medieval Latin hairo, from Frankish *haigro (“heron”). Cognate with Old High German heigaro (“heron”), Old English hrāgra (“heron”). Doublet of aigrette. More at heron.