Illustration of dodo
- dodo 1a
plural dodoes or dodos
1
a
: an extinct heavy flightless bird (Raphus cucullatus synonym Didus ineptus of the family Columbidae) of the island of Mauritius that was larger than a turkey and was related to the pigeon
b
: an extinct flightless bird (Raphus solitarius) of the island of Réunion similar to and closely related to the dodo
2
a
: one hopelessly behind the times
b
: a stupid person
Examples of dodo in a Sentence
That dodo can't do anything right.
I feel like a complete dodo.
Recent Examples on the Web
The dodo, of the island of Mauritius, is a textbook example.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Keyte added that her team was still a long way from bringing back the dodo.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Colossal previously announced efforts to revive other extinct species like the woolly mammoth, the dodo, and the thylacine, but the dire wolf's return is the first successful mammalian de-extinction of its kind.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Then, out of nowhere, the bird grows a new bone, sprouts fresh feathers — and is apparently not dead as a dodo after all.
—Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dodo
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Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Keyte added that her team was still a long way from bringing back the dodo.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Colossal previously announced efforts to revive other extinct species like the woolly mammoth, the dodo, and the thylacine, but the dire wolf's return is the first successful mammalian de-extinction of its kind.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Then, out of nowhere, the bird grows a new bone, sprouts fresh feathers — and is apparently not dead as a dodo after all.
—Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dodo
Cite this Entry
“Dodo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dodo. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dodo
noun
do·do
ˈdōd-ō 
plural dodoes or dodos
1
: a large heavy flightless extinct bird related to the pigeons and formerly found on some of the islands of the Indian Ocean
2
a
: a person who is hopelessly behind the times
b
: a stupid person
Etymology
from Portuguese doudo, name given by Portuguese sailors to the bird, from doudo (adjective) "silly, stupid"
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