Poultry: Definition, Usage & Common Examples

Meaning 1：domestic fowl (poultry)

poultry 🔊

/ˈpəʊltri/

Birds that are raised on farms for their meat and eggs, especially chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.

Poultry definition illustrated with chickens, ducks, and a turkey on a sunny farm.

domestic fowl 🔊

➕

/dəˈmɛstɪk faʊl/

Refers to birds that are domesticated and raised on farms, primarily for their meat or eggs.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old French 'pouletrie', meaning domestic fowl collectively.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a **poultry** farm with **fowl** you can count.

📖 Example

The supermarket has a wide variety of fresh poultry, including chicken, duck, and turkey. 🔊 The supermarket offers a broad selection of fresh domestic fowl, such as chicken, duck, and turkey.

🔗 Collocations

poultry farming – The agricultural practice of raising domestic fowl.

poultry products – Goods derived from domestic fowl, like meat and eggs.

poultry industry – The business sector involved in raising and selling domestic fowl.

🔄 Synonyms

livestock (n.) – Farm animals regarded as an asset, which can include poultry.

fowl (n.) – A general term for birds, often domesticated ones.

bird (n.) – A broader term for any feathered animal, not necessarily domesticated.

🚫 Antonyms

wildfowl (n.) – Wild birds, especially waterfowl hunted for sport or food.

game birds (n.) – Wild birds hunted for sport or food, not domesticated.

predator (n.) – An animal that hunts and eats other animals, a threat to poultry.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'poultry' entered English from Old French 'pouletrie' (c. 1300), which derives from 'pouletier' (poulterer). Its ultimate Latin origin is 'pullus', meaning a young animal or a young fowl. This reflects its specific use for farmed birds rather than wild ones.