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 Such fatherly behaviors might have evolved thanks to female canids continually choosing males that care for their young, one study suggests. Devin Farmiloe, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2024 Modeling them as pack animals might change the apparent scavenging success rates of our own ancestors when in competition with the canids. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Sep. 2023 Other animal groups such as the canids were undergoing changes, as well, and diversifying at this time. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 22 June 2023 Our inability to treat the environment for worms means there is potential for wild canids that frequent urban spaces, such as coyotes and foxes, to pick up resistant worms as well. Bradley Van Paridon, Scientific American, 1 June 2023 Now, researchers comparing genetic data of preserved Japanese wolf specimens found that the canid may be more closely related to dogs than any other wolf found so far. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2021 What is apparently the first tool use in a canid was observed recently, in a dingo named Sterling who really, really wanted to chew on something out of his reach. Veronique Greenwood, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2012 When were the canids reintroduced there? 6 OF 8 Transportation stocks have been trailing lately—portending what, typically? 7 OF 8 American kids’ weight surged during the pandemic. Daniel Akst, wsj.com, 22 Apr. 2023 Other Srubnaya sites had less than 3 percent canid. Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 8 Aug. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'canid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near canid

Cite this Entry

“Canid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canid. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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