canary

noun

ca·​nary kə-ˈner-ē 

plural canaries

1

: a Canary Islands usually sweet wine similar to Madeira

2

: a lively 16th century court dance

3

: a small finch (Serinus canaria synonym S. canarius) of the Canary Islands that is usually greenish to yellow and is kept as a cage bird and singer

4

slang : informer sense 2

Synonyms of canary

• informant
• informer
• rat

Examples of canary in a Sentence

a canary who was singing and giving up the names of some of the city's most notorious drug lords

Recent Examples on the Web

Measles is the canary in the coal mine for vaccination and public health, and at this moment, the canary is singing a doleful tune. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

The Edge and Adam Clayton both release canaries into the air in slow motion. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 26 June 2026

Whichever companies are fastest to adopt AI could become canaries in the coal mine for the rest of the economy. — Nikita Ostrovsky, Time, 14 May 2026

Princess Kate is back at Royal Ascot and looking radiant in a canary-yellow look. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French canarie, from Old Spanish canario, from Islas Canarias Canary Islands

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing canary

• canary seed
• canary yellow
• like the cat that ate/got/swallowed the canary

Rhymes for canary

• askari
• astbury
• azeri
• banbury
• barberry
• blackberry
• blueberry
• cranberry
• dentary
• dewberry
• dogberry
• equerry

Kids Definition

canary

noun

ca·​nary kə-ˈne(ə)r-ē 

plural canaries

: a small usually yellow or greenish finch native to the Canary Islands that is often kept in a cage