Illustration of red fox
red fox
noun
: a usually orange-red to reddish-brown Holarctic fox (Vulpes vulpes) that has a white-tipped tail compare silver fox sense 1
Examples of red fox in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dogs Have Co-Evolved With Humans Like No Other Species
Utilizing Food Caches for Survival
In highly social species, like coyotes, red foxes, arctic foxes and other canid species, they are known to make food caches.
—
Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2023
For nine years, South African photographer Neil Aldridge has tried to capture the fraught relationship between humans and red foxes in Great Britain.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
Among wildlife, the virus has been detected in raccoons, skunks, red foxes, possums, and coyotes and grizzly bears, according to the USDA.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 4 June 2023
If there are fewer small mammals, there is less food for their natural predators, such as red foxes, steppe polecats, upland buzzards, brown bears and mountain weasels.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 24 May 2023
The team discovered a tusk, molar tooth and other bones from a woolly mammoth; an incomplete skull and lower jaw of a woolly rhinoceros; a virtually complete wolf skeleton; and partial remains of hyena, horse, reindeer, mountain hare and red fox, per a Sherford statement.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2022
Those were the days when a prime red fox pelt would fetch an average of $46 — about $185 in today’s dollars — and old-timers guarded their turf as closely as their trade secrets.
—Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2023
The sleek and tenacious Sierra Nevada red fox — once thought to have disappeared from the mountain range that bears its name — has been detected near the eastern boundary of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2023
The Sierra Nevada red fox has declined dramatically because of poisoning and trapping, habitat destruction from logging and livestock grazing and disturbance from off-road vehicles and snowmobiles, said Jeff Miller, a senior conservation advocate for the center.
—Scott Sonner, ajc, 3 Aug. 2021
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Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2023
For nine years, South African photographer Neil Aldridge has tried to capture the fraught relationship between humans and red foxes in Great Britain.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
Among wildlife, the virus has been detected in raccoons, skunks, red foxes, possums, and coyotes and grizzly bears, according to the USDA.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 4 June 2023
If there are fewer small mammals, there is less food for their natural predators, such as red foxes, steppe polecats, upland buzzards, brown bears and mountain weasels.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 24 May 2023
The team discovered a tusk, molar tooth and other bones from a woolly mammoth; an incomplete skull and lower jaw of a woolly rhinoceros; a virtually complete wolf skeleton; and partial remains of hyena, horse, reindeer, mountain hare and red fox, per a Sherford statement.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2022
Those were the days when a prime red fox pelt would fetch an average of $46 — about $185 in today’s dollars — and old-timers guarded their turf as closely as their trade secrets.
—Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2023
The sleek and tenacious Sierra Nevada red fox — once thought to have disappeared from the mountain range that bears its name — has been detected near the eastern boundary of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2023
The Sierra Nevada red fox has declined dramatically because of poisoning and trapping, habitat destruction from logging and livestock grazing and disturbance from off-road vehicles and snowmobiles, said Jeff Miller, a senior conservation advocate for the center.
—Scott Sonner, ajc, 3 Aug. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'red fox.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1742, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near red fox
Cite this Entry
“Red fox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20fox. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
red fox
noun
: a usually orange-red to reddish brown fox with a white-tipped tail compare silver fox
More from Merriam-Webster on red fox
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about red fox
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