: animal life
especially
: the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment
the diverse fauna of the island
compare flora
faunally
adverb
Did you know?
Faunus and Fauna were the Roman woodland god and goddess for whom animals were a particular concern. Faunus was the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Pan, and like Pan, he had goats' legs. Their goat-legged helpers, called fauns, were known for their love of pleasure and mischief. The fauna of a continent are often very similar across a broad east-west band; from north to south, however, they may vary greatly.
Examples of fauna in a Sentence
studying the diverse fauna of the island
studying the faunas of different islands
Recent Examples on the Web
Almost entirely shot with real flora and fauna using cutting-edge technology, the feature film was itself an invitation to discover natural wonders from a new point of view.
—
Kevin Giraud, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
The Balinese gardens feature multiple seating areas surrounded by lush flora and fauna, accompanied by the gentle trickle of nearby fountains.
—Tiana Molony, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
The location lends itself to lush landscapes and sandy beaches with ample opportunity to spot local flora and fauna from frogs and tortoises to hawks and loons.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Invasive species smother out the state’s iconic flora and fauna.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fauna
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Kevin Giraud, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
The Balinese gardens feature multiple seating areas surrounded by lush flora and fauna, accompanied by the gentle trickle of nearby fountains.
—Tiana Molony, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
The location lends itself to lush landscapes and sandy beaches with ample opportunity to spot local flora and fauna from frogs and tortoises to hawks and loons.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Invasive species smother out the state’s iconic flora and fauna.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fauna
Cite this Entry
“Fauna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fauna. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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Medical Definition
fauna
noun
fau·na
ˈfȯn-ə, ˈfän- 
: animal life
especially
: the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment compare flora sense 1
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