# pelican

/ˈpɛɫəkən/ (US) · /pˈɛlɪkən/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pelican
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a large water bird with a very long beak and a big throat pouch used for catching fish.

For teachers: a large gregarious waterbird of the family Pelecanidae, characterised by a long bill and a distensible gular pouch used for scooping up fish.

## Examples

- The pelican dived into the water to catch a fish.
- We watched a pelican perched on the pier, waiting for the fishing boats to return with their daily catch.
- The brown pelican is a remarkable example of conservation success, having recovered from near extinction caused by pesticide contamination in the mid-twentieth century.

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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.