Canis Major

noun

Ca·​nis Ma·​jor ˌkā-nəs-ˈmā-jər How to pronounce Canis Major (audio)
ˌka-
: a constellation to the southeast of Orion containing Sirius

Examples of Canis Major in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But the concept of both Canis Major and Canis Minor belonging to Orion appears to be as ancient as the Dog Star itself. Joe Rao, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026 Meanwhile, the brilliant stars of the constellations Orion and Canis Major shine in their midwinter glory. Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026 The next star in the Winter Triangle is Sirius, which happens to be the brightest star in the night sky and the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, Orion’s big hunting dog. Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2025 The recent full moon in the same region of the sky (Canis Major) had led to a paucity of observations, which resulted in a gap in observations. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin (genitive Canis Majoris), literally, greater dog

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Canis Major was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Canis Major.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Canis%20Major. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.

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