What does "partridge" mean?
Any bird of a number of genera in the family Phasianidae, notably in the genera Perdix and Alectoris.
Partridge
/ˈpɑɹtɹɪd͡ʒ/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any bird of a number of genera in the family Phasianidae, notably in the genera Perdix and Alectoris.
- Grammar: partridge is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: bobwhite, bobwhite quail, bonasa umbellus, broiler.
- Useful contrasts: nongame bird.
- Usage evidence: There's no partridge in that pear tree.
How to use "partridge"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "partridge" 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 "partridge" 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 "partridge" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "partridge" 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 "partridge" is acting as name, 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 "bobwhite" 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 "partridge", 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 bird of a number of genera in the family Phasianidae, notably in the genera Perdix and Alectoris.
"On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me a partridge in a pear tree."
- 2 valued as a game bird in eastern United States and Canada wordnet
- 3 The flesh or meat of this bird eaten as food. uncountable
- 4 a popular North American game bird; named for its call wordnet
- 5 A type of cannon charge composed of several missiles fired all together, similar to langrage or case-shot. Also a large cannon that shoots stones. obsolete
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 small Old World gallinaceous game birds wordnet
- 7 heavy-bodied small-winged South American game bird resembling a gallinaceous bird but related to the ratite birds wordnet
- 8 flesh of either quail or grouse wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
"Mrs Partridge, upon this, immediately fell into a fury, and discharged the trencher on which she was eating, at the head of poor Jenny […]"
- 2 A minor city in Reno County, Kansas, United States, named after the bird.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
nongame bird
Example
"There's no partridge in that pear tree."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "partridge"?
Common synonyms include: bobwhite, bobwhite quail, bonasa umbellus, broiler, brown, canard.
How do you use "partridge" in a sentence?
There's no partridge in that pear tree.
How do you pronounce "partridge"?
Pronounced /ˈpɑɹtɹɪd͡ʒ/.
Etymology
From Middle English partrich, partriche, pertriche, perdriz, from Old French perdriz, partriz, from Latin perdīx (“partridge”), from Ancient Greek πέρδιξ (pérdix, “partridge”), probably from πέρδομαι (pérdomai, “to fart”).