whistler

noun

whis·​tler ˈ(h)wi-s(ə-)lər How to pronounce whistler (audio)
: one that whistles: such as
a
: any of various birds
especially : any of numerous oscine birds (especially genus Pachycephala) found chiefly in Australia and South Pacific islands and having a whistling call
b
: a large marmot (Marmota caligata) of northwestern North America having a shrill alarm call
c
: a broken-winded horse
d
: a very-low-frequency radio signal that is generated by lightning discharge, travels along the earth's magnetic-field lines, and produces a sound resembling a whistle of descending pitch in radio receivers

Examples of whistler 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.
Watch on Deadline Away from TV, Gilliland was quite the whistler. — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2024 In their work, Santolík and his colleagues looked for a phenomenon called whistlers. — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 27 Feb. 2026 Not until 15 minutes after shooting light did the whistlers start pouring in. — Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 18 Dec. 2025 Ullman, an expert whistler, had done the same thing before a basketball game at Duke, Rubenstein’s alma mater, in 2015. — Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 8 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for whistler

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of whistler was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

whistle punk
whistler
Whistler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whistler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whistler. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Geographical Definition

Whistler

geographical name

Whis·​tler ˈ(h)wi-s(ə-)lər How to pronounce Whistler (audio)
municipality and resort noted for its ski slopes in the Coast Ranges of southern British Columbia, Canada population 9824

Biographical Definition

Whistler

biographical name

Whis·​tler ˈ(h)wi-slər How to pronounce Whistler (audio)
James (Abbott) McNeill 1834–1903 American painter and etcher
Whistlerian
(h)wi-ˈslir-ē-ən How to pronounce Whistler (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on whistler

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whistler

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