noun
Uncommon
falcon
FAW-kuhn
Falcon (noun) means a fast-flying bird of prey with long pointed wings, often trained for hunting. Example: “The falcon dove at incredible speed toward its prey.”
noun
1
A fast-flying bird of prey with long pointed wings, often trained for hunting.
"The falcon dove at incredible speed toward its prey."
"Falconers have trained falcons for hunting for thousands of years."
"A falcon circled high above the field, watching for movement below."
How to use falcon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA swift bird of prey known for hunting other birds and small animals in flight.
Common pairings
peregrine falcon
trained falcon
falcon's nest
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Word forms
- Plural
- falcons
- Third person singular
- falcons
- Past tense
- falconed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ dove at incredible speed toward its prey.
Etymology
From Old French falcun, from Late Latin falco, likely from a Germanic word related to "pale" or "fallow" — possibly describing the bird's coloring.
Synonyms
View more →
raptor
bird of prey
Related words
Rhymes for falcon
See all rhymes for falcon →Frequently asked questions
What does “falcon” mean?
The word “falcon” means a fast-flying bird of prey with long pointed wings, often trained for hunting. In plain terms, a swift bird of prey known for hunting other birds and small animals in flight.
How do you pronounce “falcon”?
“Falcon” is pronounced FAW-kuhn (/ˈfælkən/ in IPA).
How do you use “falcon” in a sentence?
Here is “falcon” used in a sentence: “The falcon dove at incredible speed toward its prey.”
What part of speech is “falcon”?
“Falcon” is a noun.
Where does the word “falcon” come from?
The word “falcon” comes from Late Latin. From Old French falcun, from Late Latin falco, likely from a Germanic word related to "pale" or "fallow" — possibly describing the bird's coloring.
Is “falcon” a common word?
“Falcon” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a falcon and a hawk?
Falcons are fast-flying birds of prey with long, pointed wings built for high-speed hunting, often trained for falconry. Hawks generally have broader, rounder wings suited to soaring and are a related but biologically distinct group of birds of prey.
Why are falcons used in falconry?
Falcons are prized in falconry because they are fast-flying birds of prey that can be trained for hunting, using their speed and precision to catch prey in the air or on the ground. Their long pointed wings give them exceptional speed compared to many other birds of prey.
What is the fastest falcon species?
The peregrine falcon is widely recognized as the fastest bird, capable of extremely high diving speeds when hunting, a trait tied to the long, pointed wing shape typical of falcons generally.
