What does "popinjay" mean?
A parrot.
Popinjay
/ˈpɑpənˌd͡ʒeɪ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A parrot.
- Grammar: popinjay is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: dandy, dude, fop, parrot.
- Useful contrasts: humble person, modest person.
- Usage evidence: My girlfriend Aisha's uncle Haziq was a popinjay, always wearing brightly-colored suits with neon handkerchiefs falling out of his pockets.
How to use "popinjay"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "popinjay" 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 "popinjay" 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 "popinjay" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "popinjay" 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 "popinjay" 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 "dandy" 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 "popinjay", 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 A parrot.
"[I]nnumerable popingayes of ſundry kindes are found chattering in the groues of thoſe fenny places."
- 2 an archaic term for a parrot wordnet
- 3 A decorative image of a parrot on a tapestry, cloth etc. obsolete
- 4 a vain and talkative person (chatters like a parrot) wordnet
- 5 A vain, gaudy person; someone who is shallow or superficial. dated
"The very quintessence of popinjay vulgarity is reached when nicely is made to do service for well, in this wise: "How do you do?" "Nicely." "How are you?" "Nicely.""
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A target to shoot at, typically stuffed with feathers or plumage.
- 7 The green woodpecker, Picus viridis. UK
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
humble personmodest person
Example
"My girlfriend Aisha's uncle Haziq was a popinjay, always wearing brightly-colored suits with neon handkerchiefs falling out of his pockets."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "popinjay"?
Common synonyms include: dandy, dude, fop, parrot.
How do you use "popinjay" in a sentence?
My girlfriend Aisha's uncle Haziq was a popinjay, always wearing brightly-colored suits with neon handkerchiefs falling out of his pockets.
How do you pronounce "popinjay"?
Pronounced /ˈpɑpənˌd͡ʒeɪ/.
Etymology
From Middle English popinjay, popyngeay, popingay, popejay, from Anglo-Norman papegai, papejoie et al., (northern) Old French papejai (“parrot”), probably from Old Occitan papagay (compare Occitan papagai, Catalan papagai), ultimately from Arabic بَبْغَاء (babḡāʔ, “parrot”), of imitative origin.