noun

ostrich

OS-trihch

noun

A very large flightless African bird with long legs and neck, the fastest running bird on Earth.

"An ostrich can outrun most predators despite being unable to fly."

"The farm raised ostriches for their meat, feathers, and eggs."

A person who refuses to acknowledge an obvious problem, as if hiding their head to avoid seeing it.

"Ignoring the warning signs won't help — don't be an ostrich about the company's finances."

How to Use Ostrich

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe huge flightless bird known for burying its head — also a figure of speech for someone who avoids facing reality.

Common mistake

The idea that ostriches literally "bury their heads in the sand" is a myth — the figurative meaning of avoiding problems is what survives in modern use.

Common pairings

bury your head like an ostrich act like an ostrich

Word Forms

ostriches plural

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An _____ can outrun most predators despite being unable to fly.

Etymology

From Middle English ostrich, via Old French ostruce, from Vulgar Latin roots combining "bird" and a word borrowed from Greek for the same bird — itself thought to come from "sparrow" plus "camel," describing its odd mix of bird and beast-like features.