A pelican is a large seabirda bird that lives near the sea and often feeds on fish known for its long wings and huge billa bird’s hard mouthpart, like a beak with a pouch used for catching fish. It is a common word for this specific kind of bird, and it does not have many true synonymswords with the same or nearly the same meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈpɛlɪkən/
Easy pronunciation: PEL-ih-kən (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pelican Meaning
a large fish-eating bird with a pouch under its beak
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a large seabird with long wings and a big bill with a pouch for catching fish
Example: We saw a pelican diving near the shore.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes think pelican can mean any large seabird, but it refers to this specific bird.
- Pelican is not a general synonym for bird.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does pelican mean?
A pelican is a large seabird with a long bill and a pouch for catching fish.
What is a simple definition of pelican?
It means a large fish-eating bird with a pouch under its beak.
What are pelican synonyms?
Pelican does not have common true synonyms in everyday English because it names a specific bird.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.