Canada goose

noun

: the common wild goose (Branta canadensis) of North America that is chiefly gray and brownish with black head and neck and a white patch running from the sides of the head under the throat

Illustration of Canada goose

Illustration of canada goose

Examples of Canada goose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 saved the Canada goose, as well as hundreds of other bird species, by putting limits on which and when migratory birds could be hunted or taken. — Mark Vrtiska, The Conversation, 30 July 2026 More than 50 species, including the Canada goose and bald eagle, thrived with their newfound federal protections and were later delisted; another 56 species were downgraded from endangered to threatened. — Christine Peterson, Wired News, 5 July 2025 However, an unusual sighting in Alaska in 2011, when a Canada goose was seen living with and behaving like a crane, suggests this kind of adoption may have happened even earlier. — Anne Readel, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025 Michigan's Canada goose population exceeds 300,000, while the DNR aims to maintain a population between 175,000 and 225,000. — Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for Canada goose

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Canada goose was in 1676

Rhymes for Canada goose

See All Rhymes for Canada goose

Browse Nearby Words

Canada ginger
Canada goose
Canada hare
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Canada goose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Canada%20goose. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

Canada goose

noun
: a common wild goose of North America that is mostly gray and brownish with a black head and neck

More from Merriam-Webster on Canada goose

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Canada goose

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of élan

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All