coyote

noun

coy·​ote kī-ˈō-tē 

chiefly Western

ˈkī-ˌōt 

plural coyotes or 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.

Illustration of coyote

• coyote 1

Examples of coyote in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will respond to reports of aggressive coyotes, but otherwise does not relocate them. —Joan Murray, CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025

Not coyotes, owls, or sleeping deer, or any of God’s ordinary creatures. —David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

Wildlife officials generally advise that simply seeing a coyote is not, by itself, an emergency, but that animals repeatedly appearing around homes, showing little fear of people or approaching pets can become a public safety concern. —Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 25 Dec. 2025

These studies revealed other important differences between wolves and coyotes. —Alex Jensen, The Conversation, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl coyōtl

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coyote

• brodie
• dhoti
• doty
• roti
• throaty
• quixote

Kids Definition

coyote

noun

coy·​ote kī-ˈōt-ē  ˈkī-ˌōt 

plural coyotes or coyote

: a tannish gray to reddish gray North American mammal related to but smaller than the wolf