pigeon
B1Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
A stout-bodied, short-legged bird with a small head, typically having grey and white plumage, often found in urban areas.
1) A person who is easily deceived or swindled (slang). 2) In clay pigeon shooting, the clay target. 3) In military slang, an aircraft or missile used for target practice.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word can refer to both wild and domesticated birds of the family Columbidae. In ornithology, 'pigeon' and 'dove' are often used interchangeably, though 'dove' typically carries more positive connotations. The slang meaning ('a dupe') is dated but still understood.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use 'pigeon' for the bird. The slang term for a gullible person is more common in British English. The phrase 'clay pigeon' is used in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, urban pigeons are often seen as pests. In the UK, 'pigeon' can sometimes imply a working-class bird (e.g., racing pigeon), whereas in the US, it's more generically associated with city squares and parks.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English due to the prevalence of the bird in urban environments and historical cultural references (e.g., 'carrier pigeon').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to pigeonhole someone/something (verb)as [adjective] as a pigeona flock of pigeonsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be someone's pigeon (BrE, dated: to be their responsibility)”
- “clay pigeon”
- “stool pigeon”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in metaphorical use: 'Don't pigeonhole our new product into an old category.'
Academic
Used in biology/zoology contexts discussing species like the passenger pigeon or rock dove.
Everyday
Common when referring to birds in parks or cities: 'The pigeons gathered around the bench.'
Technical
Used in ornithology, aviation (target drone), and shooting sports (clay pigeon).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He tends to pigeonhole his colleagues based on first impressions.
- The council plans to pigeon the problem until next quarter.
American English
- Don't pigeonhole me as just a tech guy.
- The committee decided to pigeon the issue for now.
adjective
British English
- He's a real pigeon fancier.
- The pigeon loft needed cleaning.
American English
- She joined a pigeon shooting club.
- We have a pigeon problem on the fire escape.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a grey pigeon in the park.
- The pigeon ate some bread.
- Pigeons often live in big cities.
- My grandfather used to keep racing pigeons.
- The proposal was pigeonholed by the management committee.
- Clay pigeon shooting requires good hand-eye coordination.
- The architect was accused of designing a building that was little more than a series of pigeonholes for workers.
- The term 'stool pigeon' originates from the practice of using tethered birds as decoys.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a PIGEON on a LEDGE. PIGEON = Perched In Grey, Eyeing Old Nuts.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PIGEON IS A MESSENGER (carrier pigeon), A PIGEON IS A TARGET (clay pigeon), A PIGEON IS A GULLIBLE PERSON (slang).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'голубь' (dove), which has a more positive connotation in Russian. 'Pigeon' is typically 'голубь' but often specifies the common city bird ('сизый голубь'). The slang meaning ('лох') is a false friend; it's very dated in English.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'pidgeon'.
- Using 'pigeon' as a verb (except in 'pigeonhole').
- Confusing 'pigeon' (countable) with 'pigeon' as a mass noun for meat (correct: 'squab').
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'clay pigeon'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Scientifically, they belong to the same family (Columbidae). In common usage, 'dove' is often used for smaller, white or lighter-coloured species with positive connotations (peace, love), while 'pigeon' is used for larger, grey/urban birds, sometimes with negative connotations.
Not commonly by itself. The verb form is almost exclusively found in the phrasal verb 'to pigeonhole', meaning to assign to a rigid category or to postpone consideration.
They are descendants of domesticated rock doves that adapted to urban environments. Cities provide abundant food (scraps), shelter (ledges, rooftops), and fewer natural predators.
It's an idiom for a person, especially a criminal, who acts as a decoy or informer for the police. It originates from the practice of tying a pigeon to a stool to act as a decoy to attract other birds.