Standard Lemma guide

nidifugous

adj · 2 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

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /nɪˈdɪfjʊɡəs/
  • General-American: /nɪˈdɪfjəɡəs/
  • General-American: /naɪˈ-/
  • rhymes with -ɪfjʊɡəs
  • rhymes with -ɪfjəɡəs

1

adj

Meaning 1

That leaves the nest shortly after hatching.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences, ornithology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: nidicolous

2

adjective

Meaning 2

(of birds) leaving the nest shortly after hatching

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: nidicolous

History

Etymology

From Latin nīdus (“nest”) and fugiō (“to flee, escape”) + -ous. By surface analysis, nidi- + -fugous.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Breton: neizhtec'hat — ground-nesting birds
  • Dutch: nestvliedend — ground-nesting birds
  • French: nidifuge — ground-nesting birds
  • German: nestflüchtend — ground-nesting birds
  • Italian: nidifugo — ground-nesting birds
  • Welsh: nythffo — ground-nesting birds