Standard Lemma guide

gaggle

noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈɡæɡl̩/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -æɡəl
  • CMU ARPABET: G AE1 G AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A group of geese when they are on the ground or on the water.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: collective

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any group or gathering of related things, particularly one perceived as noisy, boisterous or chaotic.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bunch

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Short for press gaggle: an informal briefing of journalists.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A group of women.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: collective, historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: women, ladies

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To make a noise like a goose; to cackle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

a flock of geese

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: flock

7

verb

Meaning 7

make a noise characteristic of a goose

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Cackling geese

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cackle

History

Etymology

From Middle English gagelen (“to cackle; cackle like a goose”). Compare Dutch gaggelen (“to cackle”), Icelandic gagl (“small goose; gosling”), Norwegian Nynorsk gagl (“wild goose”).

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: ято гъски (jato gǎski) — group of geese
  • Czech: houf — group of geese
  • Dutch: toom — group of geese
  • Dutch: toom — group of geese
  • Dutch: troep — group of geese
  • Dutch: troepel — group of geese
  • Esperanto: anseraro — group of geese
  • Georgian: ბატების ჯოგი (baṭebis ǯogi) — group of geese
  • Greek: κοπάδι χήνες (kopádi chínes) — group of geese
  • Ingrian: hanhiparvi — group of geese
  • Russian: ста́до гусе́й (stádo guséj) — group of geese
  • Serbo-Croatian: guščje jato — group of geese
  • Swedish: gåsflock — group of geese
  • Czech: chumel — group or related things
  • Plautdietsch: Schwitt — group or related things
  • Russian: толпа́ (tolpá) — group or related things
  • Swedish: skock — group or related things
  • Swedish: svärm — group or related things