canary

noun

ca·​nary kə-ˈner-ē 

plural canaries

1

: a small finch (Serinus canaria synonym S. canarius) of the Canary Islands that is usually greenish to yellow

Note: Canaries are often kept as pets and are prized for their singing.

see also canary in the coal mine.

2

slang : a person who provides information to police about secret or criminal activities : an informer

3

: a Canary Islands usually sweet wine similar to Madeira

4

: a lively 16th century court dance

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

Astronauts bring them on journeys to keep an eye on whether or not the water filtration systems are working, much the way miners used to take canaries down to the coal mines to check for poisonous gas leaks. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026

She’s made room for dozens of pets over the years, ranging from fluffy Chow Chows and Frenchies (her favorite breeds) to canaries, chinchillas, and beautifully fluffy cats. — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 11 Sep. 2026

Dollywood thus became our Disneyland — from the Tennessee Tornado to the Wild Eagle to the Mystery Mine with the dead canary collapsing before the big drop. — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026

Interspersed throughout the myriad activations of Monterey Car Week is the most important facet for the collector community, and that’s the array of auctions that serve as either an optimistic barometer reading or an ailing canary in the coal mine. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 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 4

Phrases Containing canary

• canary in the coal mine
• 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