dingo

noun

din·​go ˈdiŋ-(ˌ)gō 

plural dingoes

: a wild dog (Canis dingo) of Australia having a tan or reddish coat that is often considered a subspecies (C. familiaris dingo) of the domestic dog

Illustration of dingo

Did you know?

An Australian wild dog, the dingo was apparently introduced from Asia 5,000–8,000 years ago. It has short, soft fur, a bushy tail, and erect, pointed ears. It is about 4 ft (1.2 m) long, including the 12-in (30-cm) tail, and stands about 24 in (60 cm) high. Its color varies between yellowish and reddish brown, often with white underparts, feet, and tail tip. Dingoes hunt alone or in small groups. They formerly preyed on kangaroos, but now feed mainly on rabbits and sometimes on livestock. Through competition for resources, they contributed to the extermination of the Tasmanian wolf and Tasmanian devil on the Australian mainland.

Examples of dingo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her detailed attention to the environment—the smell of the sea at low tide, the sound of dingoes outside a cave, the feel of trudging through spinifex in the bush—grounds the book in a strong sense of place. —Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 1 May 2025

Jaguars kill adult sea turtles in Central and South America, whereas smaller carnivores such as foxes, skunks, coyotes, jackals, and dingoes prey on nests in various parts of the world. —Byrichard Pallardy, science.org, 28 June 2024

According to the Queensland government's official website, the dingo is considered a serious predator. —David Chiu, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Before the colonization of Australia, many aboriginal people buried dingoes with rites indistinguishable from those used for humans. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Dharuk (Australian aboriginal language of the Port Jackson area) diŋgu

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dingo

• bingo
• gringo
• lingo
• flamingo

Kids Definition

dingo

noun

din·​go ˈdiŋ-gō 

plural dingoes

: a reddish brown bushy-tailed wild dog of Australia