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flightless

American

[flahyt-lis] / ˈflaɪt lɪs /

adjective

incapable of flying.

flightless birds such as the moa, rhea, and dodo.

flightless British

/ ˈflaɪtlɪs /

adjective

(of certain birds and insects) unable to fly See also ratite

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of flightless

First recorded in 1870–75; flight ¹ + -less

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For a people nicknamed after a flightless bird, taking off overseas has somewhat ironically become a rite of passage for many New Zealanders.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

This animal, the flightless and tree-climbing lagerpetid, was first identified by scientists in 2016 and lived during the Triassic period between 242 and 212 million years ago.

From Science Daily • Dec. 9, 2025

A great horned owl found itself in a seriously sticky situation after becoming stuck in a glue trap in Orange County, rendering it both flightless and food-less.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2025

Before humans, flightless birds like the kākāpō and kiwi thrived.

From Slate • Aug. 8, 2025

He had spent most of his years alone and trapped by his flightless body.

From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023