red fox

noun

Definition of red fox

: a usually orange-red to reddish-brown Holarctic fox (Vulpes vulpes) that has a white-tipped tail — compare silver fox

Illustration of red fox

Illustration of red fox

Examples of red fox in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fewer coyotes means more red foxes and weasels; that means fewer mice; and fewer mice means less Lyme. Alan Wirzbicki, BostonGlobe.com, "The free, all-natural, and quite handsome solution to Lyme disease and other tick maladies," 22 Aug. 2019 Most homes rest on stilts; red foxes and berry bushes hide in the knee-high grass. Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, "The Village Where Every Cop Has Been Convicted of Domestic Violence," 18 July 2019 The red fox, which is typically found farther south, is moving north onto the tundra and competing with the Arctic fox for food and territory. Christina Nunez, National Geographic, "Tundra threats, explained," 19 June 2019 Encounter and photograph other intriguing wildlife of the far north, including caribou, red foxes, and a host of migratory birds. National Geographic, "Canadian Arctic High School Expedition," 12 June 2019 Seek out the smaller species of the tundra, from red foxes to ptarmigans, and document your discoveries in a photo- essay. National Geographic, "Canadian Arctic High School Expedition," 12 June 2019 Maryland’s red foxes were pushed the edge of their territory, and their numbers declined. Darryl Fears, The Denver Post, "Killing wolves was supposed to solve a problem but created issue with coyotes," 3 June 2019 Down the Shore, red foxes have been disappearing from Brigantine for years and residents finally know why. Aubrey Nagle, Philly.com, "A guide to Mexican South Philly, the Eagles' unusual draft | Morning Newsletter," 30 Apr. 2018 In one ongoing experiment that began in 1959, researchers in Siberia led by the late Dmitry Belyaev bred only the most docile silver foxes (a variant of standard red foxes, not George Clooney and his ilk). Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "Why Are Some Animals Impossible To Domesticate?," 13 Mar. 2019

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

See More

First Known Use of red fox

1742, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more