Any one of various species of Old World singing birds of the family Oriolidæ. They are usually conspicuously colored with yellow and black. The European or golden oriole (Oriolus galbula, or Oriolus oriolus) has a very musical flutelike note.
In America, any one of several species of the genus Icterus, belonging to the family Icteridæ. See Baltimore oriole, and Orchard oriole, under Orchard.
Orioles are colourful Old World passerine birds in the family Oriolidae. They are not related to the New World orioles, which are Icterids, family Icteridae.