: any of numerous small often spiny mammalian insectivores (family Tenrecidae) chiefly of Madagascar
Examples of tenrec in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The tailless tenrec of Madagascar has litters of up to 32, according to the IUCN, while the naked mole rat has an average of 28.
—
Liz Langley, National Geographic, 8 Apr. 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Liz Langley, National Geographic, 8 Apr. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Tenrec.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenrec. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
