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noun C2 Proficient

buzzard

BUH-zuhd

Buzzard (noun) means a broad-winged bird of prey in the hawk family. Example: “A buzzard circled slowly above the field.”

noun
1
A broad-winged bird of prey in the hawk family.
"A buzzard circled slowly above the field."
2
US informal: a grumpy or unpleasant old man.
"The old buzzard complained about the noise again."

How to use buzzard

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA type of hawk-like bird; informally in American English, a cranky old person.

UK vs US

In the UK it almost always refers to the bird; the "grumpy old man" sense is American slang.

Word forms

buzzards plural, buzzards plural, Buzzards plural

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Can you complete this real example?

A _____ circled slowly above the field.

Etymology

From Old French busard, likely from Latin buteo ("hawk").

Origin: Latin

buteo broadwing turkey vulture vulture

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “buzzard” mean?

The word “buzzard” means a broad-winged bird of prey in the hawk family. In plain terms, a type of hawk-like bird; informally in American English, a cranky old person.

How do you pronounce “buzzard”?

“Buzzard” is pronounced BUH-zuhd (/ˈbʌzɚd/ in IPA).

How do you use “buzzard” in a sentence?

Here is “buzzard” used in a sentence: “A buzzard circled slowly above the field.”

What is another word for “buzzard”?

Words with a similar meaning to “buzzard” include buteo, broadwing, turkey vulture and vulture.

What part of speech is “buzzard”?

“Buzzard” is a noun.

Where does the word “buzzard” come from?

The word “buzzard” comes from Latin. From Old French busard, likely from Latin buteo ("hawk").

How many meanings does “buzzard” have?

“Buzzard” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a broad-winged bird of prey in the hawk family.

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