bald eagle

noun

: an eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) of North America that is brown when young with white only on the undersides of the wings but in full adult plumage has white head and neck feathers and a white tail

Illustration of bald eagle

Illustration of bald eagle

Examples of bald eagle 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.
The Ojai Raptor Center, which has been treating Jackie, said the bald eagle's bloodwork indicates anemia. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026 Fans of beloved bald eagle Jackie got some good news on the evening of Wednesday, July 29. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Jackie the internet-famous bald eagle mom has officially been moved out of the intensive care unit at the Ojai Raptor Center. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 July 2026 In February and March, bald eagles congregate along the Mississippi, where partial winter thaws expose fish to predatory birds waiting near the surface. — Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bald eagle

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bald eagle was in 1688

Rhymes for bald eagle

See All Rhymes for bald eagle

Browse Nearby Words

bald-domed
bald eagle
Balder
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bald eagle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bald%20eagle. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bald eagle

noun
: a North American eagle which is mostly brown when young but has white head, neck, and tail feathers when mature

More from Merriam-Webster on bald eagle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bald eagle

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