# pigeon

/ˈpɪdʒən/ (US) · /pˈɪdʒən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pigeon
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the bird

noun · CEFR A2

a common bird with a fat body and short legs, often seen in cities.

For teachers: any bird of the family Columbidae, characterized by a stout body, short neck, and fleshy cere.

- A large group of pigeons gathered in the square to eat bread crumbs.
- Urban pigeons have adapted remarkably well to city life, nesting on window ledges that mimic the rocky cliffs of their ancestors.

### 2. meat

noun · CEFR B2

the meat of a pigeon used as food.

For teachers: the flesh of the pigeon consumed as food, often referred to as squab when the bird is young.

- The restaurant served roasted pigeon with a side of seasonal vegetables.
- The chef prepared a traditional salmi of pigeon, emphasizing the rich, gamey flavour of the breast meat.

### 3. a victim

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

a person who is easily tricked or cheated, especially in a scam.

For teachers: a person who is easily swindled or targeted as the victim of a confidence game.

- The scammers were looking for a pigeon who would believe their story about the prize money.
- The professional gamblers viewed the wealthy newcomer as a perfect pigeon, ripe for exploitation in their high-stakes game.

### 4. responsibility

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Archaic · Informal

someone's business or responsibility.

For teachers: an idiomatic reference to a person's particular concern, duty, or area of responsibility.

- If he wants to waste his money, that is his pigeon, not mine.
- The colonel made it clear that while the logistics were his pigeon, the tactical execution remained entirely with the captain.

Teaching tip: This sense is mostly found in mid-20th-century British literature; modern speakers would say 'that's his lookout' or 'that's his business'.

### 5. to trick

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to cheat or trick someone.

For teachers: to deceive or swindle someone, typically through a confidence trick.

- He was worried that the street performers were trying to pigeon him out of his cash.
- The plot involved a sophisticated attempt to pigeon the investors by presenting fraudulent geological reports.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The children like to feed the pigeons in the park.
- Large flocks of pigeons often gather in the city square, waiting for tourists to drop crumbs of bread.
- While often dismissed as pests in urban centers, pigeons possess remarkable navigational abilities and were historically utilized for long-distance communication due to their homing instincts.

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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.