Unkindness
noun /ˌʌnˈkaɪndnəs/ — A group of ravens — and a beautifully dark name for it.
Definition
The collective noun for a group of ravens — chosen with poetic precision, as ravens have been associated with ill omen, death, and the uncanny since at least the Norse tradition.
Beyond the definition
The person who named an unkindness of ravens understood something true about language: that the best collective nouns are not merely descriptive but interpretive. They apply a moral or emotional quality to a group, telling you how to feel about it.
Origin & history
English collective noun tradition, possibly medieval. Ravens were associated with battlefields, the Tower of London, and death omens — the name reflects all of this.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
An unkindness of ravens settled on the fence with an authority that felt intentional.
She'd always loved that it was called an unkindness — language acknowledging what ravens represent.
The unkindness wheeled overhead in silence that felt like a statement.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Unkindness” when the meaning fits your context: The collective noun for a group of ravens — chosen with poetic precision, as ravens have been associated with ill omen, death, and the uncanny since at least the Norse tradition.
Synonyms
murder (of crows), conspiracy (of ravens)
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Unkindness" mean?
Unkindness is noun meaning: A group of ravens — and a beautifully dark name for it.. The collective noun for a group of ravens — chosen with poetic precision, as ravens have been associated with ill omen, death, and the uncanny since at least the Norse tradition.
Where does the word "Unkindness" come from?
English collective noun tradition, possibly medieval. Ravens were associated with battlefields, the Tower of London, and death omens — the name reflects all of this.