plumage

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'plumage' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the feathers of a bird. For example: "The peacock displayed its magnificent plumage".

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Birds with white plumage, such as swans, have a white body louse, while the dark-plumaged coot has an almost black body louse.

Encyclopedia Britannica

An adult male in flight is a glorious sight, with its wingspan of well over a metre and ghostly grey plumage.

The Guardian - Travel

There are around 90 species worldwide, most of them sharing that gorgeous blue plumage.

The Guardian - Travel

The Air Niugini planes used to be painted in dazzling bright crimsons, oranges, yellows and greens to depict the plumage of the bird of paradise, the national symbol.

The Economist

She has dropped her pro-Palestinian stance, spoken out in favour of tough welfare policies and decked herself in hawk's plumage.

The Economist

The Delors Commission between 1985 and 1994 marked the zenith of this sort of integrationist zeal.After many a flap (see article), EMU eventually metamorphosed into a bird of much grander plumage.

The Economist

Overpriced homes are like the extravagant plumage of a peacock, an eye-catching encumbrance that only the most resourceful males can put on display.The burden of home-buying thus falls heavily on unmarried men.

The Economist

As the photographs above show, the two birds (cuckoo on the left, sparrowhawk on the right) are similar in size, shape and plumage, and both have a conspicuous pattern of bars on their breasts a pattern found on many species of hawk, but not on the cuckoo's relatives.

The Economist

With colleagues at New York University and Yale University in America, he is modelling and testing the possibilities.In this section Arresting developments The long and the short of it Plumes and plumage Ant and tech ReprintsIndeed, he proposes to evaluate the result using an updated version of the Turing test.

The Economist

Various vultures have featherless necks, presumably to stop the blood and gore from their meals matting their plumage.

The Economist

However, there is more to this elaborate deceit than is generally realised.As far back as ancient times a similarity has been noted between many cuckoo species and hawks; in size, shape and plumage.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing birds, use "plumage" to refer to the overall arrangement and color of their feathers, especially when highlighting distinctive patterns or features.

Common error

Avoid using "plumage" when referring to a single feather. "Plumage" describes the entirety of a bird's feathers, not individual ones.

Linguistic Context

The word "plumage" functions primarily as a noun, referring to the complete covering of feathers on a bird. Ludwig's examples frequently use it in descriptive contexts, such as describing the colours or patterns of a bird's feathers.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

34%

News & Media

64%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plumage" refers to the complete set of feathers on a bird and is used to describe its appearance. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and very common, particularly in encyclopedias and news media. When writing, remember that "plumage" describes the overall covering, not individual feathers, and that it’s a suitable term for both general and technical descriptions of birds. Alternative terms include "feathers" or "feathering", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feathers

Focuses on the individual components rather than the collective covering.

feathering

Emphasizes the act or process of acquiring feathers or their arrangement.

avian coat

Uses a metaphorical term to describe the feathers as a covering.

bird's attire

Employs a playful metaphor, referring to feathers as clothing.

set of feathers

It is more general and focuses on the collection aspect of feathers.

covering of feathers

Highlights the protective aspect of feathers.

coat of feathers

Highlights feathers forming a coat or layer.

external covering

Generic descriptor focusing on the outermost layer.

pelage

Zoological term for animal's fur, broader than "plumage".

vesture

A formal or archaic term for clothing or covering.

FAQs

How to use "plumage" in a sentence?

You can use "plumage" to describe the feathers of a bird, for example: "The peacock's "plumage" is known for its vibrant colours".

What is the difference between "plumage" and "feathers"?

"Feathers" refers to the individual structures, while "plumage" refers to the complete set of feathers covering a bird.

What are some synonyms for "plumage"?

Some synonyms for "plumage" include "feathers", "feathering", or "avian coat".

Is "plumage" a formal word?

"Plumage" is a relatively formal word, often used in ornithology and descriptive writing. Simpler alternatives include "feathers".