Jump To:

• lynx
  lynx

  noun

  any of several wildcats of the genus Lynx (orFelis ), having long limbs, a short tail, and usually tufted ears, especially L. lynx Canada lynx, of Canada and the northern United States, having grayish-brown fur marked with white.
• Lynx
  Lynx

  noun

  a faint constellation in the N hemisphere lying between Ursa Major and Cancer

lynx

American  

[lingks] / lɪŋks /

noun

lynxes plural

1. any of several wildcats of the genus Lynx (orFelis ), having long limbs, a short tail, and usually tufted ears, especially L. lynx Canada lynx, of Canada and the northern United States, having grayish-brown fur marked with white.

2. (initial capital letter) a northern constellation between Ursa Major and Auriga.

---

lynx ¹ British  

/ lɪŋks /

noun

1. a feline mammal, Felis lynx (or canadensis ), of Europe and North America, with grey-brown mottled fur, tufted ears, and a short tail

2. the fur of this animal

3. another name for bobcat

4. another name for caracal

5. Also called: Polish lynx.  a large fancy pigeon from Poland, with spangled or laced markings

---

Lynx ² British  

/ lɪŋks /

noun

1. a faint constellation in the N hemisphere lying between Ursa Major and Cancer

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lynxlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• lynxes
  plural
• lynx
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lynx

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin, from Greek lýnx

Compare meaning

How does lynx compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• lynx vs. bobcat
• caracal vs. lynx

Explanation

A lynx is a wild cat with distinctive tufts on the tips of its ears that give it extra-sensitive hearing. Many species of lynx live in northern climates and use their huge paws as snowshoes. The lynx is known for its tufted ears, snowshoe paws, and lush, spotted fur. Because of this fur, lynx have been aggressively hunted by humans for centuries. Today many species of lynx are endangered, and while Canada lynx have a stable population, they are dependent on snowshoe hares, their preferred prey. Some etymologists guess that lynx comes from a root meaning "brightness," referring to the cat's glowing yellow eyes.

Example Sentences

Seeing deep tracks right after a rain shower can mean the lynx is very close by.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

As the smooth highway north of Seville stretched into the vastness of pastoral Extremadura, the chances of finding a lynx, which remains rarer than the snow leopard or the Bengal tiger, felt impossibly small.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

The Iberian lynx was right there and still invisible.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

As lynx numbers continue to rise, traffic will once more become an issue.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

The coat of Old Tallow was a fantastic thing, woven of various pelts, including one of lynx, one of beaver, a deer hide, and two that belonged to beloved dogs.

From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich

Related Words

• bobcat
• wildcat