hyena

or hy·ae·na

[ hahy-ee-nuh ]

noun

1. a doglike carnivore of the family Hyaenidae, of Africa, southwestern Asia, and south central Asia, having a coarse coat, a sloping back, and large teeth and feeding chiefly on carrion, often in packs.

hyena

/ haɪˈiːnə /

noun

1. See strandwolf
   any of several long-legged carnivorous doglike mammals of the genera Hyaena and Crocuta, such as C. crocuta ( spotted or laughing hyena ), of Africa and S Asia: family Hyaenidae, order Carnivora (carnivores) See also strandwolf

Derived Forms

• hyˈenic, adjective

Other Words From

• hy·enic hy·e·nine [hahy-, ee, -nahyn, -nin], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyena¹

1350–1400; Middle English hiena < Medieval Latin hyēna, Latin hyaena < Greek hýaina, equivalent to hy- (stem of hŷs ) hog + -aina feminine suffix; replacing Middle English hyane, hyene < Middle French hiene < Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyena¹

C16: from Medieval Latin, from Latin hyaena, from Greek huaina, from hus hog

Example Sentences

With habitat restored, people in the region began to hear the cries of hyenas at night, a welcome return, Duguma says.

From Science News

Imagine the Serengeti with fewer lions or hyenas — or none at all.

From Science News For Students

Lions, hyenas and other top predators still stalk herds of wildebeests over a million strong, preventing them from eating too much vegetation.

From Science News

A Serengeti with fewer lions or hyenas — or none at all — may look intact from space, but it’s missing key species that help the whole ecosystem run.

From Science News

A new documentary series called Diamonds in the Sand captured the monthlong journey, which involved surviving heat, headwinds, and wildlife like hyenas, elephants, and lions.

From Outside Online

When this had been accomplished, Hlakanyana ate all the meat in the pot, and threw the bones at the Hyena.

From Project Gutenberg

It's no wonder he drinks, hitched up to a cantankerous old hyena like that.

From Project Gutenberg

This species, though smaller than the striped hyena, is of a fiercer nature and more dangerous.

From Project Gutenberg

With something like a feeling of satisfied vengeance, the young hunter saw the hyena roll over dead.

From Project Gutenberg

There is this also in their habit of pursuing their prey in packs, which renders them much more formidable than the hyena.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mutt
• pooch
• pup