: 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
Environmental principles as a foundation Before construction, Boiko conducted a thorough site study of the pine forest—its flora, fauna, and sensitive species.
—
Maria Williams, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the shores of Lake Michigan features miles of sand beach, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna, towering bluffs, an island lighthouse, coastal villages, picturesque farmsteads and more.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The limited existing flora and fauna would be replaced by life adapted to the lake.
—Big Think, 17 Oct. 2025
Meals are hyper-locally sourced, in part from the garden out back tended by the head of grounds—who also doubles as the yoga instructor—and serve as an education to the flora and fauna of the desert.
—Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fauna
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Maria Williams, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the shores of Lake Michigan features miles of sand beach, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna, towering bluffs, an island lighthouse, coastal villages, picturesque farmsteads and more.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The limited existing flora and fauna would be replaced by life adapted to the lake.
—Big Think, 17 Oct. 2025
Meals are hyper-locally sourced, in part from the garden out back tended by the head of grounds—who also doubles as the yoga instructor—and serve as an education to the flora and fauna of the desert.
—Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fauna
Cite this Entry
“Fauna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fauna. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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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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