1. a large flightless bird with a flat breastbone, such as an ostrich, emu, or kiwi
Usage: zoological

1. relating to or characteristic of flightless birds with flat breastbones
Usage: zoological

Examples

• The ostrich is the largest ratite in the world.
• Emus are ratites native to Australia.
• The museum’s ratite exhibit featured several species of flightless birds.
• Ratite birds cannot fly due to their underdeveloped wing muscles.
• The kiwi is a small ratite found only in New Zealand.
• Scientists study ratite evolution to understand flightlessness in birds.