albatross
5 synonyms for albatross, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A large seabird with long narrow wings and a hooked beak, found mainly over the Southern Ocean and North Pacific, famous for gliding vast distances without flapping.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use albatross
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
an albatross around one's neck
a lone albatross
Etymology
Probably from Spanish or Portuguese alcatraz ("pelican" or "gannet"), altered under the influence of Latin albus ("white"). The "burden" meaning comes from Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," in which a sailor is forced to wear a dead albatross around his neck as punishment.
Full origin of albatross →Frequently asked questions
What does “albatross” mean?
The word “albatross” means a large seabird with long narrow wings and a hooked beak, found mainly over the Southern Ocean and North Pacific, famous for gliding vast distances without flapping. In plain terms, either the big oceanic bird, or (more common in everyday speech) a constant burden you can't shake off.
How do you pronounce “albatross”?
“Albatross” is pronounced AL-buh-tros (/ˈæl.bəˌtɹɔs/ in IPA).
How do you use “albatross” in a sentence?
Here is “albatross” used in a sentence: “The albatross soared for hours behind the ship without a single wingbeat.”
What is another word for “albatross”?
Words with a similar meaning to “albatross” include gooney bird, gooney, goonie and mollymawk.
What part of speech is “albatross”?
“Albatross” is a noun.
Where does the word “albatross” come from?
The word “albatross” comes from Latin.
How many meanings does “albatross” have?
“Albatross” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large seabird with long narrow wings and a hooked beak, found mainly over the Southern Ocean and North Pacific, famous for gliding vast distances without flapping.
