Illustration of dingo
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
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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
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The 40-acre facility has among its list of roughly 1,600 critters, penguins, binturongs, sharks, dingoes, Flemish giant rabbits, servals, tree frogs, capuchin monkeys, moon jellyfish, pythons and orangutans.
—
Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 10 July 2025
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
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Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 10 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dingo
Cite this Entry
“Dingo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dingo. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
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