raccoon dog

noun

Definition of raccoon dog

: a small omnivorous canid (Nyctereutes procyonoides) of eastern Asia having a long yellowish-brown coat and facial markings resembling that of a raccoon

— called also tanuki

Examples of raccoon dog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In New Horizons, the player's character has purchased a Deserted Island Getaway Package from Tom Nook, a Japanese raccoon dog who's been in every title of the series. — Ed Masley, azcentral, "What is Animal Crossing? What to know about the Nintendo game everyone's obsessing over," 15 Apr. 2020 The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, before its closure, advertised dozens of species such as giant salamanders, baby crocodiles and raccoon dogs that were often referred to as wildlife, even when they were farmed, according to the AP. — Frank Miles, Fox News, "China's wet markets can include these bizarre, unusual items," 11 Apr. 2020 The initial outbreak of the novel coronavirus epidemic has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province in Central China, where a wide variety of wild animals were being sold as meat, including snakes, porcupine and raccoon dogs. — Ben Westcott, CNN, "Chinese government reveals draft list of animals which can be farmed for meat," 10 Apr. 2020 Snakes, raccoon dogs, porcupines and deer were just some of the species crammed inside cages, side by side with shoppers and store owners, according to footage obtained by CNN. — Ben Westcott, CNN, "China has made eating wild animals illegal after the coronavirus outbreak. But ending the trade won't be easy," 5 Mar. 2020 Footage taken from inside the market show wild animals such as snakes, raccoon dogs, porcupines and deer inside cages waiting to be purchased. — Alicia Lee, CNN, "Chinese officials crack down on wildlife markets as coronavirus outbreak nears 3,000 cases," 27 Jan. 2020 Moreover, raccoon dogs multiply fast, with large litters each year. — John Myers, Twin Cities, "Never heard of the Minnesota raccoon dog, either? We are lucky," 23 Oct. 2019 The invading raccoon dogs were eventually chased off by people wielding big pieces of wood. — John Myers, Twin Cities, "Never heard of the Minnesota raccoon dog, either? We are lucky," 23 Oct. 2019 Researchers also discovered a number of other species in the CEZ during the summer, including brown hare, red deer, moose, wild boar, red fox and raccoon dogs. — Fox News, "Chernobyl shocker as endangered wild horses take up residence in the Exclusion Zone," 30 Oct. 2019

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about raccoon dog

Dictionary Entries near raccoon dog

Statistics for raccoon dog

Cite this Entry

“Raccoon dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raccoon%20dog. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

Comments on raccoon dog

What made you want to look up raccoon dog? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

fathom

Listen to the pronunciation of fathom

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

More Confusing Words—Quiz

The magician ______ moved the selected card to the top of the deck.

discreetly discretely

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ