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

The fence, meant to keep dingoes away from grazing livestock, divides Australia into two large sections: a southeast area and a northwest area, which correspond with the two populations of dingoes. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2024

One of the ur-dogs of the planet, a dingo/jackal/hound, a traveler-in-packs, a sharp-witted middleweight, a superfast runner, beaky, brainy, built for the Great Unraveling, for broken cities and despairing populations. —James Parker, The Atlantic, 13 June 2024

The egg-laying mammals also have to contend with predators, which can include hawks, eagles, Tasmanian devils, snakes and dingoes. —Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024

Before the colonization of Australia, many aboriginal people buried dingoes with rites indistinguishable from those used for humans. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dingo

noun

din·​go ˈdiŋ-gō 

plural dingoes

: a reddish brown bushy-tailed wild dog of Australia