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

Illustration of red fox

Illustration of red fox

Examples of red fox in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This sensitive riparian habitat is home to 100 bird species, mammals like red fox, coyote, bats, and recently salmon. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024 Coyotes – along with jackrabbits, raccoons, red foxes, porcupines, and skunks — are classified as non-game species in Wyoming, which means there are no bag limits, and they can be taken year-round without a license. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 31 Jan. 2024 In rural areas, red foxes live on the borders of woods and fields. Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2024 Florida's Zoo Miami has announced the death of its beloved animal ambassador Swift, a red fox that first arrived at the zoo in April 2017. Nikki Dobrin, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2023 Of the two types of foxes that call Michigan home — the red fox and the gray fox — Michiganders are more likely to hear a red fox because of its comfort living near humans, according to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Elissa Welle, Detroit Free Press, 18 Feb. 2022 In a 1975 experiment, 29 out of 50 different wild ducks played dead when they were exposed to captive red foxes. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 12 Oct. 2023 Incredibly adaptable to the developing world, red foxes can be found in suburban and urban settings where they are known to scavenge for food in trash cans, consuming human leftovers and food for domestic pets. Nikki Dobrin, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2023 The Face of the Persecuted by Neil Aldridge A red fox with a wound on its face sits in a crate meant to be a makeshift den at a rehabilitation center in England. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of red fox was in 1742

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 19 Mar. 2024.

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

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