: a small pale-fawn fox (Vulpes zerda synonym Fennecus zerda) with large ears that inhabits the deserts of northern Africa and Arabia
Examples of fennec in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Beyond making these tiny, Chihuahua-sized foxes inimitably adorable, their disproportionately huge ears serve to keep the fennec from overheating by dissipating body heat.
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Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2014
The large ears of a fennec fox would be a liability in a cold climate like where the arctic fox lives.
—Bridget B. Baker, Discover Magazine, 21 Jan. 2019
Bronx Tales Staff becomes concerned when a fennec fox is diagnosed with a rare heart condition.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2021
The team’s tested the trunk on birds, sand cats and fennec foxes so far.
—Sarah Haselhorst, Cincinnati.com, 8 June 2020
In 2015, both a Great Dane dog and fennec fox were found to have eyes crusted with green mucus.
—Tessa Duvall, The Courier-Journal, 7 Feb. 2020
Many desert animals, such as the fennec fox, are nocturnal, coming out to hunt only when the brutal sun has descended.
—Christina Nunez, National Geographic, 12 June 2019
The event also featured a lemur, two macaws, and an African fennec fox.
—CBS News, 14 May 2018
In addition to the caged tiger, school officials said a lemur, two macaws and an African fennec fox were also on site.
—Fiza Pirani, ajc, 14 May 2018
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Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2014
The large ears of a fennec fox would be a liability in a cold climate like where the arctic fox lives.
—Bridget B. Baker, Discover Magazine, 21 Jan. 2019
Bronx Tales Staff becomes concerned when a fennec fox is diagnosed with a rare heart condition.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2021
The team’s tested the trunk on birds, sand cats and fennec foxes so far.
—Sarah Haselhorst, Cincinnati.com, 8 June 2020
In 2015, both a Great Dane dog and fennec fox were found to have eyes crusted with green mucus.
—Tessa Duvall, The Courier-Journal, 7 Feb. 2020
Many desert animals, such as the fennec fox, are nocturnal, coming out to hunt only when the brutal sun has descended.
—Christina Nunez, National Geographic, 12 June 2019
The event also featured a lemur, two macaws, and an African fennec fox.
—CBS News, 14 May 2018
In addition to the caged tiger, school officials said a lemur, two macaws and an African fennec fox were also on site.
—Fiza Pirani, ajc, 14 May 2018
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fennec.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Arabic fanak
First Known Use
1790, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Fennec.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fennec. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
fennec
noun
fen·nec
ˈfen-ik 
: a small African fox with large ears
More from Merriam-Webster on fennec
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