storm petrel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary, Technical (Ornithology)
Quick answer
What does “storm petrel” mean?
A small, dark seabird (family Hydrobatidae) that flies low over the water, often far from land, and is associated with stormy weather.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, dark seabird (family Hydrobatidae) that flies low over the water, often far from land, and is associated with stormy weather.
A person or thing that heralds or thrives in turmoil, disturbance, or revolutionary activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The compound noun is consistently spelled as two words in both varieties. The metaphorical usage is slightly more established in British political/journalistic writing.
Connotations
Ornithological: neutral. Metaphorical: negative or ominous, suggesting disruption.
Frequency
Rare in everyday conversation. More likely encountered in nature writing, sailing contexts, or political commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “storm petrel” in a Sentence
[be] a storm petrel of [social/political change][verb] like a storm petrelVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “storm petrel” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The politician seemed to storm-petrel his way through the conference, unsettling everyone.
adjective
British English
- He had a storm-petrel quality about him, always appearing before controversy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'The new CEO was seen as a storm petrel, signalling major restructuring.'
Academic
Used in ornithology, marine biology, and historical/political studies for metaphorical analysis.
Everyday
Very rare. Most would not use the term unless discussing birds or in very specific literary contexts.
Technical
Standard term in ornithology for birds in the family Hydrobatidae.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “storm petrel”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “storm petrel”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “storm petrel”
- Spelling as one word: 'stormpetrel'. Confusing with 'petrel' alone, which is a broader category. Using the metaphor in inappropriate informal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as two separate words: storm petrel.
Yes, but this is a metaphorical and literary usage, meaning a person who appears just before or seems to predict trouble or dramatic change.
Ornithologically, no. The name comes from the old sailor belief that their appearance signaled an approaching storm. They are often seen in windy conditions.
'Petrel' is a broader term for several families of seabirds. 'Storm petrel' specifically refers to the smallest species in the family Hydrobatidae, known for their fluttering flight close to the water's surface.
A small, dark seabird (family Hydrobatidae) that flies low over the water, often far from land, and is associated with stormy weather.
Storm petrel is usually formal, literary, technical (ornithology) in register.
Storm petrel: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɔːm ˌpɛtr(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɔːrm ˌpɛtrəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A storm petrel of revolution”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a small bird (PETREL) bravely flying ahead of a STORM, seeming to predict it. This bird signals coming trouble.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SMALL BIRD IS A HARBINGER OF MAJOR CHANGE/TURMOIL.
Practice
Quiz
In a political context, calling someone a 'storm petrel' implies they are: