# ostrich

/ˈɔstɹɪtʃ/ (US) · /ˈɒstɹɪtʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ostrich
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the bird

noun · CEFR A2

a very large African bird with a long neck and long legs that can run fast but cannot fly.

For teachers: a large, flightless ratite bird of the genus Struthio, native to Africa and characterized by its long neck and legs.

- The ostrich ran across the grass at an amazing speed.
- While the ostrich is incapable of flight, its powerful legs allow it to reach speeds of up to seventy kilometres per hour when threatened.

### 2. person avoiding problems

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

someone who refuses to face a difficult or unpleasant situation by pretending it does not exist.

For teachers: a person who avoids facing a difficult situation or unpleasant truth, based on the myth that the bird buries its head in the sand.

- Stop being such an ostrich and look at these unpaid bills.
- The CEO was accused of acting like an ostrich, ignoring the clear signs of a market downturn until it was too late to pivot.

### 3. golf score

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a very rare score in golf where a player finishes a hole five strokes under par.

For teachers: a hypothetical score of five strokes under par on a single hole.

- An ostrich is so rare that most professional golfers have never seen one.
- While an albatross is rare enough, the theoretical ostrich remains a statistical anomaly that almost never occurs in professional tournament play.

## Examples

- The ostrich buried its head in the sand.
- During our safari in South Africa, we saw a wild ostrich running across the plains at incredible speed.
- While the ostrich is primarily known for its flightless nature and powerful kick, it also produces the largest eggs of any living land animal, which have been used by humans for millennia.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.