chicken

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'chicken' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it any time to refer to the bird, the meat of the bird, or even figuratively. For example: "I didn't take the job because I was too chicken."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The chicken costume is a mainstay," tweeted Bertram.

The Guardian

If we raise the minimum wage often, then we will soon be having $20 fried chicken".

The Guardian - Business

Tucked away under ancient arches just by the bustling San Bartolomeo square, the Rosticceria is basically an old-fashioned self-service cafeteria, dishing up excellent and inexpensive comfort food - a "primo" for €6, followed by roast chicken, or "baccala mantecato", the traditional creamy salt cod.

The Guardian - Travel

It also serves one the best chicken thalis around.

The Guardian - Travel

Not long ago Blake was called round to Kanye West's mansion, to play music and eat chicken and chips.

The Guardian - Music

You can't demand chicken under the Human Rights Act, although the 2006 headline "Kentucky Fried Farce that shows folly of the Human Rights Act" might possibly have led tabloid readers to believe otherwise.

The Guardian - Opinion

The next day, remove the chicken from the wine and pat dry, then set aside.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Daily Mirror organised a man in a chicken costume to demonstrate against Cameron's cowardice.

The Guardian - Opinion

The chickens were apparently a reference to a 2010 stunt carried out by Voina, a radical art collective to which some Pussy Riot members previously belonged, in which a participant stole a whole raw chicken from a supermarket and inserted it into her vagina.

The Guardian - Music

Apricots and prunes now enliven lamb stews; oranges and clementines add zest to chicken traybakes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She said: "Consumers will be appalled to learn that ministers have repeatedly failed to take any action to tackle the alarming levels of campylobacter in supermarket chicken.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "chicken" metaphorically to describe cowardice, be mindful of the audience and the potential for misinterpretation, especially in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using the term "chicken" to describe someone's cowardice in formal settings, as it can be seen as informal or even offensive. Opt for more nuanced vocabulary such as "cowardly", "fearful" or "lacking courage".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "chicken" is as a noun, referring to a type of domestic fowl or its meat. It can also function as an adjective, meaning cowardly. Ludwig AI confirms the word is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Lifestyle

25%

Travel

10%

Less common in

Opinion

10%

Music

5%

Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "chicken" is a versatile word with multiple meanings, primarily functioning as a noun to denote the animal or its meat. It also carries a figurative meaning as an adjective, describing someone who is cowardly. Ludwig AI states the word is correct and usable in written English. Analysis of examples reveals its frequent usage in news, lifestyle, and travel contexts. When using "chicken", consider the context to ensure clarity and avoid unintended connotations. While generally neutral, its adjectival form can be perceived as informal. Semantically related alternatives include "poultry", "hen", and "rooster", while synonyms for cowardice encompass "yellow-bellied" and "lily-livered".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hen

Female chicken, specifying the gender of the fowl.

rooster

Male chicken, specifying the gender of the fowl.

poultry

Broader term referring to domestic fowl used for meat or eggs, encompassing chicken.

fowl

A general term for birds, especially those of a large, domestic kind used as food.

poulet

French term for chicken, useful in culinary contexts.

broiler

Chicken raised specifically for meat production, indicating a commercial context.

coward

Figurative usage of "chicken" referring to someone who lacks courage.

Gallus gallus domesticus

Scientific name for the domestic chicken, indicating a more formal context.

yellow-bellied

Synonym for cowardly, similar to the figurative use of "chicken".

lily-livered

Another synonym for cowardly, akin to calling someone "chicken".

FAQs

How can I use "chicken" in a sentence?

You can use "chicken" to refer to the bird itself (e.g., "The farmer raised chickens"), its meat (e.g., "I had fried chicken for dinner"), or metaphorically to describe someone who is cowardly (e.g., "Don't be a chicken!").

What's the difference between "chicken" and "poultry"?

"Chicken" refers specifically to the domestic fowl Gallus gallus domesticus, while "poultry" is a broader term encompassing various domestic birds raised for meat or eggs, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.

Which is correct, "chicken" or "chicken meat"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different uses. "Chicken" can refer to both the live animal and the meat, while ""chicken meat"" specifically refers to the meat of the chicken.

What can I say instead of calling someone "chicken"?

You can use alternatives like "cowardly", "fearful", or "yellow-bellied" to describe someone who is afraid or lacks courage.