Illustration of swan
- swan 1
plural swans
1
plural also swan
: any of various large heavy-bodied long-necked mostly pure white aquatic birds (family Anatidae, especially genus Cygnus) that have webbed feet and are related to but larger than the geese
2
: one that resembles or is likened to a swan
3
Swan
: the constellation Cygnus
Examples of swan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Dec. 2025
Mincemeat pies, crane, swan, brawn (terrine made with a pig’s head and served with mustard), goose and lamprey pie, and even porpoise (served dressed with vinegar and breadcrumbs) were all popular holiday fare.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 22 Dec. 2025
Neda Ulaby, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025
The music video, in which Tay swans around a Malibu mansion in a pastel two-piece, was more controversial.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for swan
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Noun
From reporting on the rise of chrome to lauding the return of swan decor and the emergence of the Unexpected Lamp Theory, 2025 was a year of nostalgic comebacks.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Dec. 2025
Mincemeat pies, crane, swan, brawn (terrine made with a pig’s head and served with mustard), goose and lamprey pie, and even porpoise (served dressed with vinegar and breadcrumbs) were all popular holiday fare.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 22 Dec. 2025
Verb
They're led by a glamorous male mad scientist, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who swans about in a glittering corset and heels.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025
The music video, in which Tay swans around a Malibu mansion in a pastel two-piece, was more controversial.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for swan
Cite this Entry
“Swan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swan. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
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