falcon

noun

fal·​con ˈfal-kən How to pronounce falcon (audio) ˈfȯl- How to pronounce falcon (audio)
also ˈfȯ-kən
1
: any of various hawks trained for use in falconry
especially : peregrine falcon
—used technically only of a female compare tiercel
2
: any of various hawks (family Falconidae) that have long pointed wings, a long tail, and a notched beak and that usually inhabit open areas

Illustration of falcon

Illustration of falcon
  • 1 hood
  • 2 jess
  • 3 gauntlet

Examples of falcon 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.
Most of the items for sale were mummified human remains, usually body parts such as hands and feet, or heads (like Peruvian shrunken heads); six were animals, specifically a cat, a falcon, an ibis, a perch, and a primate skull. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026 The baby falcons hatched in early May after their falcon parents, Vixen and Dave, nested in a crevice on the second floor of the exterior of Aurora City Hall. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 The vehicle’s falcon wing doors and trunk were both open and up, as well as the front hood of the car, with chairs from the cafe scattered throughout the scene. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 But that is not the case, as the largest animals are not the fastest, and the fastest animals (cheetahs, marlins, falcons) are of intermediate size. — Literary Hub, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for falcon

Word History

Etymology

Middle English faucoun, falcon, from Anglo-French faucon, from Late Latin falcon-, falco, probably from Latin falc-, falx

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of falcon was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing falcon

Rhymes for falcon

See All Rhymes for falcon

Browse Nearby Words

Falco
falcon
falcon-beaked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Falcon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/falcon. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

falcon

noun
fal·​con ˈfal-kən How to pronounce falcon (audio) ˈfȯl- How to pronounce falcon (audio)
also ˈfȯ-kən
1
: a hawk trained for use in falconry
2
: any of various swift hawks with long pointed wings, a long tail, and a notch on the upper half of the beak for killing prey

More from Merriam-Webster on falcon

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about falcon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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