Bevy
collective noun /ˈbɛvi/ — A group of swans — and later, any graceful gathering.
Definition
Originally the collective noun for a group of swans or quail; now used more broadly for any large, elegant gathering of people or things.
Beyond the definition
Bevy carries gracefulness in its sound — soft and rounded, like the birds it first described. Swans on water are effortless on the surface while furiously paddling beneath, which perhaps explains why the word migrated so naturally to other contexts.
Origin & history
From Old French bevée — a drink, a drinking bout (beivre: to drink). Swans drink and bathe together — the collective noun comes from their communal gathering at water. Later broadened to describe any company gathered in grace or number.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
A bevy of swans drifted upstream with an unhurried confidence.
A bevy of executives arrived at the conference, trailing assistants and certainty.
The word bevy is luxurious — it assumes elegance as the default.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Bevy” when the meaning fits your context: Originally the collective noun for a group of swans or quail; now used more broadly for any large, elegant gathering of people or things.
Synonyms
flock, group, company
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Word in focus
A bevy of swans
A bevy of swans floated together near the shore.
Bevy can name a group of swans. The photograph shows several swans on the water; it illustrates the gathering rather than documenting this sentence.
Image credit: Vasil.somecrow · CC0 (license)
Resized and converted to WebP; full composition retained.
Questions about this word
What does "Bevy" mean?
Bevy is collective noun meaning: A group of swans — and later, any graceful gathering.. Originally the collective noun for a group of swans or quail; now used more broadly for any large, elegant gathering of people or things.
Where does the word "Bevy" come from?
From Old French bevée — a drink, a drinking bout (beivre: to drink). Swans drink and bathe together — the collective noun comes from their communal gathering at water. Later broadened to describe any company gathered in grace or number.