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snowy owl
noun
: a large ground-nesting diurnal arctic owl (Nyctea scandiaca) that enters the chiefly northern parts of the U.S. in winter and has plumage that is sometimes nearly pure white but usually with brownish spots or bars
Examples of snowy owl in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Owl ring bearers have become more popular at British weddings in the years since the success of the Harry Potter books and movies, in a nod to Hedwig, Harry’s snowy owl that delivered mail without an address, bird trainer Ryan Stocks said.
—Cathy Free, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024
The refuge — home to grizzly and polar bears, snowy owls, migratory birds, and herds of moose and caribou — is the nation's largest remaining expanse of unspoiled wilderness.
—Harold Maass, The Week, 7 Sep. 2023
The refuge in the northeastern corner of Alaska is home to grizzly and polar bears, snowy owls, migratory birds and herds of moose and caribou.
—Lisa Friedman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2023
Bristol County: The luminaries featured a greater white-fronted goose in Easton, a continuing Eurasian wigeon at The Sawmill in Acushnet, a snowy owl in New Bedford, and a yellow-breasted chat at Egypt Lane in Fairhaven.
—BostonGlobe.com, 8 Jan. 2022
These hatchings are a major celebration for the future of snowy owls and increasing their populations.
—Megan Becka, cleveland, 9 Aug. 2023
Owls are nocturnal hunters, and not letting an animal out at night eliminates the threat of a great horned owl or snowy owl mistaking a pet for prey.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2023
The thing that really got me to the outskirts of L.A. was a snowy owl.
—Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 June 2023
For more on snowy owls in Wisconsin, visit dnr.wi.gov and search for snowy owl.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 22 Nov. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'snowy owl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1781, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Snowy owl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snowy%20owl. Accessed 31 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
snowy owl
noun
: a large chiefly arctic owl that nests on the ground and is white or white spotted with brown
More from Merriam-Webster on snowy owl
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about snowy owl
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