: any of various dark-colored web-footed waterbirds (family Phalacrocoracidae, especially genus Phalacrocorax) that have a long neck, hooked bill, and distensible throat pouch
Diamond Jim Brady was perhaps the most celebrated cormorant of the Gilded Age.
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The image was captured in January in La Jolla, California, when cormorants were building their nests.—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 The largest species of cormorant on the US Pacific Coast, these marine birds can dive deep below the ocean surface to catch fish and shellfish.—New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2025 Sea lion pups are nursing, playing and learning to swim and there are baby pelicans and cormorants all along the cliffs.—Monica Deeks, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025 In others, huddles of cormorants gather on the black sand beaches, and sea lions bark from the rocks.—John Bartlett, NPR, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for cormorant
Word History
Etymology
Middle English cormeraunt, from Middle French cormorant, from Old French cormareng, from corp raven + marenc of the sea, from Latin marinus — more at corbel, marine
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