# puffin

/ˈpəˌfɪn/ (US) · /pˈʌfɪn/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/puffin
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Definition

a small sea bird with black and white feathers and a big, bright beak. You often see them living on cliffs in cold northern places.

For teachers: a small pelagic seabird of the auk family with black-and-white plumage and a large, brightly coloured triangular bill in the breeding season. It nests in colonies on northern coastal cliffs and feeds by diving for small fish.

## Examples

- The puffin holds a small fish in its beak.
- We watched puffins dive from the cliff and return with beaks full of sand eels for their chicks.
- At dusk the puffins crowded the ledge, their painted bills flashing as they jostled for space before settling for the night.

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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.