What does gannet mean?
A gannet is a large, long-winged seabird in the family Sulidae, and it is especially associated with the northern gannet of the North Atlantic. Its white body, yellowish head, pointed wings, and dramatic plunge-diving style make it conspicuous in coastal colonies, where large numbers gather to nest on rocky cliffs. The name is also documented in older informal British English as a term for a foolish or silly person, a now-dated sense that should be recognized but normally avoided in contemporary writing. In modern birding, conservation, and travel contexts, however, gannet refers straightforwardly to the bird. The word is useful because it names a distinctive ocean-going species without the broader, less exact label of “gull,” and it preserves a small piece of English social history in its older figurative meaning.
nounA large, long-winged seabird of the family Sulidae, especially the northern gannet, which catches fish by diving headfirst into the sea.
- A large seabird of the family Sulidae, especially the northern gannet of the North Atlantic.
- A dated informal term for a foolish or silly person.
"A gannet wheeled above the waves before folding its wings and plunging into the water in search of fish."
"Thousands of gannets crowded the cliff ledges of the breeding colony."
"That remark left them all looking like a pair of gannets, though the insult is now distinctly old-fashioned."
The regular plural is used for individual birds and, collectively, for the species.
"Several gannets circled above the shoal before diving for fish."
Gannets hunt in a dramatic plunge dive, snapping their long wings back just before they strike the water.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gannet come from?
The English word entered Middle English as ganet, borrowed from Old French ganet. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, although it has sometimes been associated with a Gaulish word for a goose. This uncertainty also limits the extent to which certain modern words can confidently be identified as cognates.
How gannet is actually used
The bird sense is standard in British and American English. The word was formerly used informally in British English for a fool or silly person, but that sense is now dated and may sound quaint or deliberately archaic.
Easily confused with gannet
A gannet is a seabird, whereas a garnet is a deep red mineral commonly used as a gemstone.