poultry

noun

poul·​try ˈpōl-trē How to pronounce poultry (audio)
Synonyms of poultrynext
: domesticated birds kept for eggs or meat

Examples of poultry in a Sentence

This wine goes well with poultry.
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.
Get the best meats, poultry and seafood delivered straight to your doorstep with a Good Chop subscription and score a free Blackstone Griddle with your 3rd order. Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 4 July 2026 That is far smaller than the 2025 outbreak that killed millions of commercial poultry. Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026 The 2025 outbreak was HPAI, and that’s the strain that continues to worry veterinarians and poultry scientists. Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026 Prices hit record highs last year amid an avian flu outbreak that decimated the country's poultry flocks. Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for poultry

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pultrie, from Anglo-French pulletrie, from pulleter poulterer, from pullet chicken — more at pullet

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poultry was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poultry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poultry. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

poultry

noun
poul·​try ˈpōl-trē How to pronounce poultry (audio)
: domesticated birds kept for eggs or meat
Etymology

Middle English pultrie "fowl raised for food," from early French pulletrie (same meaning), from pulleter "one who raises poultry," from pullet "chicken" — related to pullet

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