What does bevy mean?
A bevy is a large group or collection of people or things of the same kind, used almost always in the construction 'a bevy of' followed by a plural noun. The word first referred to flocks of birds — particularly quail and larks — and that sense still lingers in hunting vocabulary, but modern English overwhelmingly uses it for people and things: a bevy of reporters, a bevy of suitors, a bevy of new products. It tends to appear in lively, journalistic, or slightly playful prose rather than formal writing, and it often carries a connotation of abundance, charm, or visual appeal — phrases like 'a bevy of beauties' have been common since the nineteenth century. Etymologically the word is something of a mystery: it appeared in Middle English in the fifteenth century, possibly from an Old French word relating to drinking, though its exact origins remain disputed. For writers seeking a more colorful alternative to plain words like 'group,' bevy adds texture and a touch of old-world flavor to descriptions of crowds and collections.
nounA large group or collection of people or things of the same kind; originally a flock of birds, especially quail.
- A large group or collection of people or things of one kind (e.g. a bevy of reporters, a bevy of options).
- A flock of birds, especially quail or larks (the original, now largely historical sense).
"A bevy of reporters crowded around the podium as the results came in."
"The festival drew a bevy of young musicians eager to perform on the main stage."
"The hunters flushed a bevy of quail from the tall grass."
The plural is grammatically regular but uncommon in practice, since 'a bevy of...' is nearly always used in the singular even for multiple groups described separately.
"The marshes held bevies of waterfowl through the winter months."
A 'bevy' began life as a term for a flock of quail — and no one is entirely sure where the word itself came from.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bevy
Bevy entered English in the Middle English period, attested from the fifteenth century, where it denoted a company of birds such as roe deer, larks, or quails. Its ultimate origin is uncertain; the most widely cited theory derives it from Old French 'bevée,' meaning a drink or drinking bout, from 'boire' (to drink), which would make it a relative of 'beverage' and ultimately of Latin 'bibere.' Whatever its exact source, the word's meaning broadened over the centuries from flocks of game birds to any sizable collection of people or things, a shift well established by the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Related word forms
How bevy is actually used
Used almost exclusively in the fixed pattern 'a bevy of + plural noun.' The tone is often light, journalistic, or slightly whimsical rather than formal, and it frequently carries a connotation of liveliness, abundance, or attractiveness — especially when applied to people. The original bird-flock sense survives mostly in hunting contexts and historical usage.
Easily confused with bevy
A levy is an act of raising money, troops, or taxes by authority, while a bevy is simply a large group of people or things.