coyote

noun

coy·ote | \ kī-ˈō-tē

, chiefly Western ˈkī-ˌōt

plural coyotes or coyote

Definition of coyote

1 : a buff-gray to reddish-gray swift carnivorous mammal (Canis latrans) of North America that is closely related to but smaller than the wolf, has a narrow pointed muzzle and triangular ears, hunts singly or in small groups, and is known for its various distinctive vocalizations (such as barks, yips, and howls)

Note: The coyote is often considered a threat to livestock. Despite being hunted and trapped, the coyote has expanded its original range and is found in all states except Hawaii.

2 slang : one who smuggles immigrants into the U.S.

Examples of coyote in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His efforts also helped lead to bans on DDT insecticide and the chemical compound 1080, used to kill coyotes and other animals. — James R. Hagerty, WSJ, "Nathaniel Reed, Aide to Nixon and Ford, Helped Lead Drive to Protect Environment," 20 July 2018 Dogs resemble wild quadrupeds — feral hogs, raccoons, coyotes and other mammals — that are regular meals for gators. — Shannon Tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "Wildlife is wild, so admire from afar," 13 June 2018 Last year, Wildlife Services reported intentionally killing 12,119 coyotes with M-44s, along with four feral dogs, nearly 1,000 foxes and 12,000 cowbirds. — Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, "Cyanide 'bombs' used to kill coyotes, foxes under review by federal officials," 28 Apr. 2018 There's no accurate count on the number of coyotes in Seward, authorities say. — Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News, "First the rabbits disappeared. Now Seward’s coyotes are killing dogs.," 8 Mar. 2018 There were lone coyotes and leaping pronghorn that flew across the land as the plains became sandstone bluffs that dropped into deep gorges of the curvy Missouri River. — Andrew Evans, chicagotribune.com, "Feel the pull of the prairie on a uniquely American safari in Montana," 5 July 2018 The ReachFew places are as majestic as Montana’s Big Sky country: Think endless meadows, legendary rivers, the howl of coyotes. — Laura Dannen Redman, Condé Nast Traveler, "18 Summers: The Ultimate Guide to Not Wasting a Single Vacation With Your Kids," 20 July 2018 Don’t Run Running from most animals — including coyotes, feral dogs and bears — is a futile exercise, Ms. Levin said. — New York Times, "5 Simple Tips to Handle a Wild Animal Encounter on Vacation," 5 July 2018 By the time Gold Country and another wildlife group managed to capture the coyote in early February, she had been seen roaming the hills outside Auburn, northeast of Sacramento, for at least 10 days. — Karin Brulliard, Washington Post, "Animals keep getting their heads stuck in our trash," 20 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coyote.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.