chicken hawk: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (specific political context) / Low (ornithological context)Informal (political), Technical (ornithological)
Quick answer
What does “chicken hawk” mean?
A political pejorative term for a person, especially a politician, who strongly advocates for military action or war, but who avoided military service themselves.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A political pejorative term for a person, especially a politician, who strongly advocates for military action or war, but who avoided military service themselves.
A hawk (bird of prey) that preys on chickens or similar domestic fowl, especially species like the Cooper's hawk or sharp-shinned hawk.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The political usage originated in and is almost exclusively used in American English. The ornithological term is understood but less common in British English.
Connotations
In the US, it carries a heavy political charge. In the UK, the ornithological meaning is primary, with the political metaphor only understood through exposure to US politics.
Frequency
Much higher frequency in US political media and commentary; very low frequency in UK English outside of specific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “chicken hawk” in a Sentence
[person/public figure] is a chicken hawk[person] was labelled a chicken hawk for [action/statement]the chicken hawk [advocates for/pushes for] warVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chicken hawk” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was chicken-hawked by the opposition press for his bellicose speech.
American English
- The columnist spent years chicken-hawking politicians who had never served.
adjective
British English
- It was a chicken-hawk argument, full of bluster but no personal risk.
American English
- The chicken-hawk senator voted for every intervention while deferring his own military service.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used.
Academic
Used in political science and media studies to discuss political rhetoric and character attacks.
Everyday
Used in political discussions, especially online and in opinion journalism.
Technical
In ornithology, an informal common name for certain Accipiter species.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chicken hawk”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chicken hawk”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chicken hawk”
- Using it as a neutral synonym for 'hawk' (political). Confusing it with 'chicken little' (alarmist). Assuming it has a positive or neutral connotation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an informal, derogatory term used in political rhetoric and media commentary, not a formal academic classification.
Yes, in ornithology and rural contexts, it informally refers to hawks known to prey on domestic fowl, like the Cooper's hawk.
No. Its primary, political meaning is an American English phenomenon. In British English, it is far more likely to be understood in its literal, ornithological sense.
The accusation is one of hypocrisy: advocating for warlike policies that put others in harm's way, while having personally avoided military service or combat.
A political pejorative term for a person, especially a politician, who strongly advocates for military action or war, but who avoided military service themselves.
Chicken hawk: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɪkɪn hɔːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɪkɪn hɔːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Chicken hawk politics”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Chicken' (afraid to fight) + 'Hawk' (wants to fight). A person who is chicken-like in their personal history but hawk-like in their political demands.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL HYPOCRISY IS A PREDATORY BIRD THAT PREYS ON ITS OWN WEAKNESS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'chicken hawk' MOST LIKELY to be used pejoratively?