What does "pigeon" mean?
One of several birds of the family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes.
Pigeon
/ˈpə.dʒən/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One of several birds of the family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes.
- Grammar: pigeon is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: avifauna, babe, baby bird, bamboozle.
- Useful contrasts: savvy person, skeptic, wild pigeon.
- Usage evidence: The pigeon and the ostrich are both birds; one can fly and the other cannot.
How to use "pigeon"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pigeon" 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 "pigeon" 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 "pigeon" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pigeon" 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 "pigeon" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang 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 "avifauna" 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 "pigeon", 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 One of several birds of the family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes. countable
- 2 Concern or responsibility. UK, archaic, countable, idiomatic, informal, uncountable
"It's their pigeon."
- 3 wild and domesticated birds having a heavy body and short legs wordnet
- 4 The meat from this bird. uncountable
- 5 A person who is a target or victim of a confidence game. Canada, US, countable, informal
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A pacifist, appeaser, an isolationist, a dove. countable
- 7 A person hired to transport film footage out of a region where transport options are limited. countable
"Kalb rushed to the airport and found a "pigeon" to take out the film: an American woman headed for London."
- 8 A weak or useless person. Australia, countable, slang
Verb
- 1 To deceive with a confidence game. transitive
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname. countable, uncountable
- 2 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Jackson Township, Spencer County, Indiana. countable, uncountable
- 3 A number of places in the United States:; Two townships in Indiana, in Vanderburgh County and Warrick County. countable, uncountable
- 4 A number of places in the United States:; A village in Winsor Township, Huron County, Michigan. countable, uncountable
- 5 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Roane County, West Virginia, named after Pigeon Run. countable, uncountable
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
Antonyms
Example
"The pigeon and the ostrich are both birds; one can fly and the other cannot."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pigeon"?
Common synonyms include: avifauna, babe, baby bird, bamboozle, beat, beguile.
How do you use "pigeon" in a sentence?
The pigeon and the ostrich are both birds; one can fly and the other cannot.
How do you pronounce "pigeon"?
Pronounced /ˈpə.dʒən/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Etymology tree Latin pīpiō Proto-Indo-European *-h₃onh₂der. Latin -ō Latin pipio Old French pyjonbor. Middle English pygeoun English pigeon Inherited from Middle English pygeoun, borrowed from Old French pyjon, inherited from Late Latin pīpiōnem (“chirping bird”), derived from Latin pīpiāre (“to chirp”), of imitative origin. Partly displaced native English dove.
Etymology 2
From pidgin English, from a Chinese Pidgin English pronunciation of English business during trade in the Far East. See pidgin.