canine

1 of 2

noun

ca·​nine ˈkā-ˌnīn 

 British also  ˈka-

1

[Middle English, from Latin (dens) caninus canine tooth] : a conical pointed tooth

especially : one situated between the lateral incisor and the first premolar see tooth illustration

2

: dog sense 1b

broadly : canid

canine

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of or resembling that of a dog

canine loyalty

2

: of or relating to dogs or to the family (Canidae) including the canids

canine diseases

Did you know?

Dogs are prized for their talents and intelligence but aren't always given credit for their independence. Instead, tales of canine devotion and attachment are legendary; the old Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin television series featured at least one heroic act of devotion per show. So we often hear people described as having "doglike devotion" or "doglike loyalty". But canine itself, unlike doglike, usually refers to four-legged creatures. Canine is not only an adjective but also a noun. Dogs and their relatives in the Canidae family—the wolves, jackals, foxes, and coyotes—are often called canines. And so are those two slightly pointed teeth a bit to the right and left of your front teeth.

Synonyms

Noun

• dog

Examples of canine in a Sentence

Noun

in the minds of some, the winner of this prestigious dog show has a fair claim to the title of King of the Canines

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Left with little hope, the canine was rescued by Northwest Dog Project and its partners, who rushed her to an emergency vet. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

The officer calmly and sweetly talks to the dog, calling to Moose to get the canine to come closer. —Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025

Adjective

The researchers warned these errors can have serious consequences, from denied housing to insurance issues, and called for more oversight and independent evaluations of canine DNA tests. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

The canine clampdown is proving controversial. London to Sweden for the day. —Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin caninus, from canis dog — more at hound

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing canine

• canine companion
• canine distemper
• canine unit

Rhymes for canine

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• byline
• carbine

Kids Definition

canine

1 of 2 adjective

ca·​nine ˈkā-ˌnīn 

: of or relating to dogs or to the family that includes the dogs, wolves, jackals, and foxes

canine

2 of 2 noun

1

: a pointed tooth

especially : one located between the outer incisor and the first premolar

2

: dog entry 1 sense 1a, b

Etymology

Adjective

from Latin caninus "having to do with dogs," from canis "dog"

Medical Definition

canine

1 of 2 noun

ca·​nine

ˈkā-ˌnīn, British also ˈkan-ˌīn

1

: a conical pointed tooth

especially : one situated between the lateral incisor and the first premolar

2

: any member of the family Canidae : dog

canine

2 of 2 adjective

: of or relating to dogs or to the family Canidae