birdie

American  

[bur-dee] / ˈbɜr di /

noun

1. a small bird.

2. Golf. a score of one stroke under par on a hole.

3. a shuttlecock.

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verb (used with object)

birdied, birdieing

1. Golf. to make a birdie on (a hole).

birdie British  

/ ˈbɜːdɪ /

noun

1. golf a score of one stroke under par for a hole

2. informal a bird, esp a small bird

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verb

1. (tr) golf to play (a hole) in one stroke under par

Etymology

Origin of birdie

First recorded in 1785–95; bird + -ie

Example Sentences

He followed that up with a chip-in for birdie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

When he stuck an iron inside 7 feet on the par-3 12th hole, it was the closest anybody had been to the pin on Sunday and set up another birdie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

On Sunday, he played those three holes par, par and birdie, going some distance toward exorcising the demons of 2011.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

But the two-time champion made a blistering start with an eagle on the second and a birdie on the third.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

The story about Bill and the birdie became one of his favorites.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey