bald eagle

noun

: an eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) of North America that is brown when young with white only on the undersides of the wings but in full adult plumage has white head and neck feathers and a white tail

Illustration of bald eagle

Illustration of bald eagle

Examples of bald eagle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In Michigan, penalties for harming a bald eagle include a 90-day misdemeanor, fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 per bird, and reimbursement of $1,500 per eagle, as well as court costs, per the DNR's notice. Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026 Michigan was home to about 900 breeding pairs of bald eagles in 2023, according to Bird Chronicle. Paula Wethington, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026 The deaths are the latest in a string of unusual circumstances impacting the bald eagle community. Kate Perez, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026 Birders will love keeping an eye out for species ranging from roseate spoonbills to wood storks to bald eagles. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bald eagle

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bald eagle was in 1688

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Cite this Entry

“Bald eagle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bald%20eagle. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

bald eagle

noun
: a North American eagle which is mostly brown when young but has white head, neck, and tail feathers when mature

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