1. people who are vain, conceited, or overly concerned with their appearance or status
Usage: often derogatory
2. colorful parrots, especially green woodpeckers
Usage: archaic; literary

Examples

• The wealthy popinjays strutted around the party in their expensive suits.
• She dismissed them as mere popinjays who cared only about appearances.
• The courtiers were nothing but popinjays, obsessed with fashion and status.
• He called the pretentious actors a bunch of popinjays.
• The medieval text described colorful popinjays in the royal gardens.
• Ancient tales often featured popinjays as symbols of vanity.