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red fox
noun
: a usually orange-red to reddish-brown Holarctic fox (Vulpes vulpes) that has a white-tipped tail compare silver fox sense 1
Examples of red fox in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In one of the earlier instances of bird flu in mammals tied to the recent outbreaks, researchers found red fox cubs in the wild infected with H5N1 in the Netherlands in May 2021.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2024
Since then, the virus has infected a range of mammal species across the country, including mountain lions, black bears, polar bears, bottlenose dolphins, harbor seals, coyotes, red foxes, minks, otters, squirrels, raccoons and opossums.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2024
Skunks and red foxes have reported the most cases, and the cases are predominantly in the northern half of the U.S. and Alaska, data shows.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
The Richmond Wildlife Center located three other red fox kits in rehabilitation settings throughout northern Virginia.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2024
In a video posted to the center’s Facebook page Tuesday, Executive Director Melissa Stanley is shown wearing a red fox mask and rubber gloves while feeding the tiny kit from a syringe.
—Denise Lavoie, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024
To that end, the center immediately began looking for other red fox kits of the same age and weight within the rehabilitation community.
—Denise Lavoie, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024
This sensitive riparian habitat is home to 100 bird species, mammals like red fox, coyote, bats, and recently salmon.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024
Coyotes – along with jackrabbits, raccoons, red foxes, porcupines, and skunks — are classified as non-game species in Wyoming, which means there are no bag limits, and they can be taken year-round without a license.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'red fox.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1742, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near red fox
Cite this Entry
“Red fox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20fox. Accessed 13 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
red fox
noun
: a usually orange-red to reddish brown fox with a white-tipped tail compare silver fox
More from Merriam-Webster on red fox
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about red fox
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