noun Uncommon

rooster

ROOS-tuh

Rooster (noun) means an adult male chicken. Example: “The rooster crowed just after dawn and woke the whole street.”

noun

An adult male chicken.

"The rooster crowed just after dawn and woke the whole street."

"They keep one rooster with a dozen hens on the farm."

How to use rooster

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA rooster is a male chicken, known for crowing at sunrise.

UK vs US

Rooster is the usual American English word; British English still commonly says "cock" for the same bird.

Common pairings

crow like a rooster a farmyard rooster the rooster crowed

Word forms

roosters plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “rooster” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ crowed just after dawn and woke the whole street.

Etymology

Formed from roost plus -er, originally meaning "one that roosts." It became the polite American alternative to "cock" once that word picked up other slang meanings.

Rhymes for rooster

foster roster poster booster Wooster imposter

See all rhymes for rooster →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rooster” mean?

The word “rooster” means an adult male chicken. In plain terms, a rooster is a male chicken, known for crowing at sunrise.

How do you pronounce “rooster”?

“Rooster” is pronounced ROOS-tuh (/ˈɹustəɹ/ in IPA).

How do you use “rooster” in a sentence?

Here is “rooster” used in a sentence: “The rooster crowed just after dawn and woke the whole street.”

What part of speech is “rooster”?

“Rooster” is a noun.

Is “rooster” a common word?

“Rooster” is an uncommon word in modern English.