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.
For the main course, choose from among beef, poultry, seafood and vegetarian options. — Connie Ogle july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 However, conventional feed used by large producers can contain poultry meal (small bits of unsellable chicken from processing), bone meal, feather meal, or animal lard. — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 26 July 2026 Season biscuits, pork dishes, and poultry stuffings with the gray-green leaves of sage (Salvia officinalis). — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 2026 The Department of Agriculture, which regulates poultry and most red meats, has lost about ten per cent of its food-safety-and-inspection team. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 23 July 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

poultice
poultry
poultry bug
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on poultry

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for poultry

Nglish: Translation of poultry for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about poultry

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