tanuki

noun

ta·​nu·​ki tä-ˈnü-kē How to pronounce tanuki (audio)
: the fur of a raccoon dog
also : raccoon dog

Examples of tanuki 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.
The miniature houses with front stoops guarded by potted plants and tanuki (raccoon dog) figurines had a stillness about them. — Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2017 And are the tanuki (raccoon dogs) that appear briefly a deliberate reference to Pom Poko? — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026 Many Japanese woodblock prints depict a tanuki kneading its testes into the shape of various objects, such as raincoats or fishing nets. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2020 Many porches displayed tanuki statues, hoping the jolly sake-clutching raccoon dogs brought prosperity. — Norma Meyer, Orange County Register, 15 May 2024 In 2016, British outlets ran a story about a man in Blackpool who was concerned people would mistake his tanuki for a feral raccoon. — Elaina Zachos, National Geographic, 16 May 2018 And in grand homes and fancy offices, a more easily read calligraphic work may be displayed as a conversation starter — its short, clear lines executed with a firm, resilient tanuki or horsehair brush. — New York Times, 3 June 2021 Flowers and feathers and leaves and bells bestow transformational powers, turning him into a tanuki (a Japanese raccoon dog) or granting him the ability to fly or hurl fireballs from his hands. — Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026 Her freak-out about a single missing shower cap is the spark that kicks off a surprisingly beautiful story about welcoming change, whether that means accepting fluctuations in the hotel’s amenities or letting a family of alien tanuki crash in the place. — Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, raccoon dog

First Known Use

circa 1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tanuki was circa 1929

Browse Nearby Words

tantrum
tanuki
tan vat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tanuki.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tanuki. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tanuki

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tanuki

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