canid

noun

ca·​nid ˈka-nəd How to pronounce canid (audio) ˈkā- How to pronounce canid (audio)
: any of a family (Canidae) of carnivorous animals that includes the wolves, jackals, foxes, coyotes, and the domestic dog

Examples of canid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Raccoon feces lacks the pointy ends and is often filled with seeds, but wild canids may eat lots of seeds, too. — Steven Sullivan, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025 The blood-squirting response is mainly used against canids such as coyotes, foxes and domestic dogs. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026 Mammalian scopes are mostly around 10 but go up to 20 for horses and just above 30 for canids. — Literary Hub, 22 June 2026 Bush dogs are small canids native to Central and South America, per the zoo’s blog. — Toria Sheffield, People.com, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for canid

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Canidae, from Canis, type genus, from Latin canis

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of canid was circa 1889

Rhymes for canid

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Browse Nearby Words

canicule
canid
canier
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Cite this Entry

“Canid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canid. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on canid

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about canid

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