Fowl vs. Chicken — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 22, 2023
Fowl refers to birds, especially ones kept or hunted for food or sport, while Chicken is a specific type of domesticated fowl raised primarily for meat and eggs.
Difference Between Fowl and Chicken
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Key Differences
Fowl and Chicken are terms often used in the context of avian species, especially those related to human consumption. Fowl is a general term that encompasses various birds, especially those hunted or domesticated for food or sport. This category includes birds like ducks, turkeys, and game birds. Chicken, however, is much more specific. It refers to a particular type of domesticated fowl known scientifically as Gallus gallus domesticus, which is raised primarily for its meat and eggs.
The etymology of both Fowl and Chicken highlights their connection to human livelihood. Fowl's root traces back to Old English, meaning bird, especially in relation to food. Chickens have been domesticated for millennia and are perhaps the most common type of poultry globally. When distinguishing between Fowl and Chicken, it's akin to understanding the relationship between a broader category and a specific member of that category.
In everyday language, Fowl may be used less frequently than Chicken, especially in urban settings. This is because chickens, given their widespread domestication, play a more direct role in the daily lives of many people, especially as a source of food. Conversely, Fowl encompasses a broader range of birds, and its use might be more common among hunters or those in rural areas where interactions with various birds for food or sport are more frequent.
When discussing culinary contexts, both Fowl and Chicken have their significance. Dishes labeled as "fowl" might be inclusive of various bird meats, while those specified as "chicken" would exclusively use the meat from chickens. It's this specificity that often makes Chicken a more prevalent term in culinary settings, given its universal recognition and preference in many cuisines.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Birds, especially those kept or hunted for food or sport.
A specific type of domesticated fowl raised for meat and eggs.
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Scope
Broad category encompassing various birds.
Specific species within the fowl category.
Common Usage
More common in hunting or rural contexts.
Widespread recognition globally, especially in culinary contexts.
Domestication
Refers to both domesticated and wild birds.
Specifically refers to domesticated birds.
Scientific Classification
Covers multiple species across different families.
Belongs to the species Gallus gallus domesticus.
Compare with Definitions
Fowl
Birds hunted or kept for food.
We're serving wild fowl for dinner tonight.
Chicken
Domesticated bird raised for meat and eggs.
I'm roasting a chicken for dinner.
Fowl
Poultry, in a general sense.
Different fowl have different dietary needs.
Chicken
A game in which participants dare each other.
They played chicken on their bikes, racing toward each other.
Fowl
Any bird, especially those of larger size.
Various fowl can be spotted near the lake.
Chicken
The chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), a subspecies of the red junglefowl, is a type of domesticated fowl, originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adult male bird, and younger male may be called a cockerel.
Fowl
Domesticated birds raised for meat or eggs.
The farm has several types of fowl.
Chicken
A domestic fowl kept for its eggs or meat, especially a young one
Rationing was still in force and most people kept chickens
Fowl
Birds kept for sport, like game birds.
He went hunting for fowl last weekend.
Chicken
A game in which the first person to lose their nerve and withdraw from a dangerous situation is the loser
He was killed by a car after he lay in the road playing chicken
Fowl
Fowl are birds belonging to one of two biological orders, namely the gamefowl or landfowl (Galliformes) and the waterfowl (Anseriformes). Anatomical and molecular similarities suggest these two groups are close evolutionary relatives; together, they form the fowl clade which is scientifically known as Galloanserae (initially termed Galloanseri) (Latin gallus (“rooster”) + ānser (“goose”)).
Chicken
Cowardly
I was too chicken to go to court
Fowl
A gallinaceous bird kept for its eggs and flesh; a domestic cock or hen.
Chicken
Withdraw from or fail in something through lack of nerve
The referee chickened out of giving a penalty
Fowl
Any of various birds of the order Galliformes, especially the common, widely domesticated chicken (Gallus domesticus).
Chicken
A common domesticated fowl (Gallus domesticus) widely raised for meat and eggs and believed to be descended from the jungle fowl G. gallus.
Fowl
A bird, such as a duck, goose, turkey, or pheasant, that is used as food or hunted as game.
Chicken
Any of various similar or related birds.
Fowl
The flesh of such birds used as food.
Chicken
The flesh of the chicken, used as food.
Fowl
A bird of any kind.
Chicken
(Slang) A coward.
Fowl
To hunt, trap, or shoot wildfowl.
Chicken
Any of various foolhardy competitions in which the participants persist in a dangerous course of action until one loses nerve and stops.
Fowl
(archaic) A bird.
Chicken
Vulgar Slang A young gay male, especially as sought by an older man.
Fowl
A bird of the order Galliformes, including chickens, turkeys, pheasant, partridges and quail.
Chicken
Afraid; cowardly.
Fowl
Birds which are hunted or kept for food, including Galliformes and also waterfowl of the order Anseriformes such as ducks, geese and swans, together forming the clade Galloanserae.
Chicken
To act in a cowardly manner; lose one's nerve
Chickened out at the last moment.
Fowl
To hunt fowl.
We took our guns and went fowling.
Chicken
(countable) A domesticated species of junglefowl (usually, Gallus gallus; sometimes, Gallus gallus domesticus or Gallus domesticus), especially so-called when young.
Fowl
Any bird; esp., any large edible bird.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air.
Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not.
Like a flight of fowlScattered by winds and high tempestuous gusts.
Chicken
(uncountable) The meat from this bird eaten as food.
Fowl
Any domesticated bird used as food, as a hen, turkey, duck; in a more restricted sense, the common domestic cock or hen (Gallus domesticus).
Chicken
(archaic) The young of any bird; a chick.
Fowl
To catch or kill wild fowl, for game or food, as by shooting, or by decoys, nets, etc.
Such persons as may lawfully hunt, fish, or fowl.
Chicken
A coward.
Fowl
A domesticated gallinaceous bird though to be descended from the red jungle fowl
Chicken
A young or inexperienced person.
Fowl
The flesh of a bird or fowl (wild or domestic) used as food
Chicken
A young, attractive, slim man, usually having little body hair; compare chickenhawk.
Fowl
Hunt fowl
Chicken
The game of dare.
Fowl
Hunt fowl in the forest
Chicken
A confrontational game in which the participants move toward each other at high speed (usually in automobiles); the player who turns first to avoid colliding into the other is the chicken (that is, the loser).
Don't play chicken with a freight train; you're guaranteed to lose.
Chicken
A simple dance in which the movements of a chicken are imitated.
Chicken
A kilogram of cocaine.
Chicken
Plural of chick
Chicken
(informal) Cowardly.
Why do you refuse to fight? Huh, I guess you're just too chicken.
Chicken
(intransitive) To avoid a situation one is afraid of.
Chicken
A young bird or fowl, esp. a young barnyard fowl.
Chicken
A young person; a child; esp. a young woman; a maiden; same as spring chicken.
Chicken
The flesh of a chicken used for food
Chicken
A domestic fowl bred for flesh or eggs; believed to have been developed from the red jungle fowl
Chicken
A person who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishy-washy
Chicken
A foolhardy competition; a dangerous activity that is continued until one competitor becomes afraid and stops
Chicken
Easily frightened
Chicken
A young bird of the species Gallus gallus domesticus.
The farm has a new brood of chickens.
Chicken
A term denoting fear or cowardice.
Don't be a chicken; it's just a harmless spider.
Common Curiosities
Are all fowl edible?
While many fowl are edible, not all are commonly consumed.
What's the origin of the term "chicken"?
It comes from Old English "cicen," meaning a young fowl.
Can "fowl" refer to wild birds?
Yes, fowl can refer to both domesticated and wild birds.
Is a chicken considered a fowl?
Yes, a chicken is a specific type of domesticated fowl.
Are ducks and turkeys considered fowl?
Yes, ducks and turkeys fall under the broader category of fowl.
Are game birds considered fowl?
Yes, game birds are a type of fowl, often hunted for sport or food.
How many chickens are there globally?
There are billions of chickens globally, making them the most numerous birds.
Is "chicken" used in any idiomatic expressions?
Yes, phrases like "don't count your chickens before they hatch" or being called a "chicken" for being fearful.
Is "chicken" only a culinary term?
No, "chicken" refers to the bird itself and its meat.
Why are chickens so widely domesticated?
Chickens are versatile, easy to rear, and provide both meat and eggs.
How is fowl meat different from chicken meat?
Fowl meat can vary widely in taste and texture, while chicken has a more consistent flavor.
Can the word "fowl" be used for birds not consumed by humans?
While fowl often refers to birds kept or hunted for food, it can also mean any bird, especially of larger size.
Are all fowl poultry?
Poultry typically refers to domesticated birds kept for meat or eggs, so while all poultry are fowl, not all fowl are considered poultry.
Is "chicken" the same worldwide?
While the basic species is the same, different regions have bred chickens for various attributes, leading to diverse breeds.
Why is chicken so popular in cuisines worldwide?
Chicken is versatile, affordable, and has a mild flavor that adapts to various preparations.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
