fauna

noun
fau·​na | \ ˈfȯ-nə How to pronounce fauna (audio) , ˈfä- \
plural faunas also faunae\ ˈfȯ-​ˌnē How to pronounce fauna (audio) , -​ˌnī , ˈfä-​ \

Definition of fauna

: animal life especially : the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment the diverse fauna of the island — compare flora

Other Words from fauna

faunal \ ˈfȯ-​nᵊl How to pronounce fauna (audio) , ˈfä-​ \ adjective
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 The parks not only protect flora and fauna but also act as natural carbon sinks – storing carbon dioxide emitted into the air and reducing the effects of global warming. Wanjohi Kabukuru, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2022 The foliage and fauna that have offered many peace have been in development for decades. Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Aug. 2022 The 1,518-square-foot glasshouse is meant to resemble a flower opening its petals, hinting at the flora and fauna housed inside. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 July 2022 Going matchy-matchy on her lower half with more fawn and fauna, the social media sensation chose to wear the Tia String Bikini Bottoms in the same Yomi Toile Beige Print. Seventeen, 5 July 2022 European bison can weigh up to a tonne, and make a significant impact on the diversity of local flora and fauna. Victoria Turk, Wired, 19 July 2022 Nature-lovers can flora and fauna, like turtles and iguanas, it’s a nature-lovers paradise. Anna Haines, Forbes, 18 July 2022 The island country—slightly bigger than Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom put together—had wide open spaces, with plenty of local fauna and wildlife. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 28 Jan. 2022 As seen at Carolina Herrera, where designer Wes Gordon combined two trends into one with this oversized crystal floral bib necklace, flora and fauna are going strong. Lauren Caruso, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fauna.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of fauna

1771, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for fauna

New Latin, from Latin Fauna, sister of Faunus

Learn More About fauna

Dictionary Entries Near fauna

faun

fauna

faunal area

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Statistics for fauna

Last Updated

25 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Fauna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fauna. Accessed 31 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for fauna

fauna

noun
fau·​na | \ ˈfȯ-nə How to pronounce fauna (audio) \

Kids Definition of fauna

: the animal life typical of a region, period, or special environment the island's fauna

fauna

noun
fau·​na | \ ˈfȯn-ə, ˈfän- How to pronounce fauna (audio) \
plural faunas also faunae\ -​ˌē How to pronounce fauna (audio) , -​ˌī How to pronounce fauna (audio) \

Medical Definition of fauna

: animal life especially : the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment — compare flora sense 1

Other Words from fauna

faunal \ -​ᵊl How to pronounce fauna (audio) \ adjective
faunally \ -​ᵊl-​ē How to pronounce fauna (audio) \ adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on fauna

Nglish: Translation of fauna for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of fauna for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fauna

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