canary

American  

[kuh-nair-ee] / kəˈnɛər i /

noun

• canaries
  plural

1. any of several Old World finches of the genus Serinus, especially S. canaria common canary, native to the Canary Islands and often kept as a pet, in the wild being greenish with brown streaks above and yellow below and in domesticated varieties usually bright yellow or pale yellow.

2. Also called canary yellow. a light, clear yellow color.

   They sell a shimmer eyeshadow in canary that would look nice with your coloring.

3. Slang. informer.

4. Slang. a female singer, especially with a dance band.

5. a sweet white wine of the Canary Islands, resembling sherry.

6. Also called canary diamond. a yellow diamond.

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adjective

1. having a light, clear yellow color.

   That canary sweater would pair well with your golden skirt.

idioms

1. the cat that ate / swallowed / got the canary. cat.

2. canary in the coal mine, someone or something that serves as an early warning sign of danger or trouble to come.

   These fish are the canaries in the coal mine, so when they die off in unusually high numbers, that's an indicator of the river's health.

canary British  

/ kəˈnɛərɪ /

noun

1. a small finch, Serinus canaria, of the Canary Islands and Azores: a popular cagebird noted for its singing. Wild canaries are streaked yellow and brown, but most domestic breeds are pure yellow

2. See canary yellow

3. history a convict

4. archaic a sweet wine from the Canary Islands similar to Madeira

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canary More Idioms  

1. see look like the cat that ate the canary.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• canaries
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of canary

First recorded in 1585–95; from Spanish (Isla) Canaria, from Latin Canāria (insula) “Dog (Island),” from can(is) “dog” ( see also hound) + -āria, feminine of -ārius -ary

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Explanation

A canary is a small songbird, a finch known for its bright yellow feathers and beautiful singing. The word canary may also refer to a police informant, a singer, or a specific shade of yellow. The canary is named after the Canary Islands, the native lands of this cheerful bird. Wild canaries vary in color, including mixtures of brown, red, black, white, and yellow. Domesticated canaries, commonly kept as pets, are usually of the yellow variety — hence the name of the color called canary. Because canaries are known for singing, people sometimes call a female singer a canary, or they may use the term to refer to a person who helps police by "singing" or snitching on others.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

canary canaries

Scientists compare the idea to a canary in a coal mine, because changes there may offer an efficient way to detect broader shifts in the climate regulating circulation.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026

Vibrant canary yellow and savoy blue jerseys that cut through even the grainiest television footage.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

It would also have been nice if, instead of circling notes like a drunken canary, Mr. Attmore had landed with a bit more frequency.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026

The question is whether it is a canary in the coal mine.

From Barron's ● Apr. 18, 2026

This tiny woman with the softness and glare of a canary.

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

Doji candles in January and May 2018 served as canaries in the coal mine, guiding investors to anticipate a large drawdown.

From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026

“Black women, we’re always the canaries in the coal mine,” she added.

From Salon ● Mar. 17, 2026

Viacom were like the canaries in the coal mine because our younger audiences were the first to really start turning towards the internet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2025

When it comes to signs of economic disruption, logistics companies are the canaries in the coal mine.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2025

“Oh, yes—miners used to bring canaries with them to gauge oxygen levels in the mine. If the canary died, they knew the oxygen was running out and they’d better get out of there.”

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart

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Related Words

• belt out
• chant
• croon
• hum
• intone
• serenade
• shout
• wait
• warble
• whistle

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