“Fowl” means a bird, especially one that is kept for food, such as a chicken, duck, or goose. It is also used as a general word for birds in older or more formal English.
In everyday English, people usually use “fowl” when talking about farm birds or poultry. You may see it in cooking, farming, or older writing, but in normal conversation, people more often say “chicken,” “duck,” or “bird.”
Meaning & Usage
“Fowl” is a broad word for certain birds, especially domestic birds raised for meat or eggs. It can also appear in phrases like “wild fowl,” which means wild birds.
Examples
She bought fowl from the market for dinner.
The farm keeps chickens and other fowl.
Wild fowl can often be seen near lakes.
Is “fowl” the same as “poultry”?
They are similar, but “poultry” usually refers to farm birds raised for food, while “fowl” can be a broader or older word for birds.
Do people use “fowl” in daily conversation?
Not very often. Most people say “chicken” or “bird” instead, unless they are speaking formally or talking about cooking or farming.
Can “fowl” mean any bird?
Sometimes, especially in older English, but today it usually refers to birds like chickens, ducks, and geese.
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