civet

American  

[siv-it] / ˈsɪv ɪt /

noun

1. a yellowish, unctuous substance with a strong musklike odor, obtained from a pouch in the genital region of civets and used in perfumery.

2. any catlike, carnivorous mammal of the subfamily Viverrinae, chiefly of southern Asia and Africa, having a coarse-haired, spotted coat, rounded ears, and a narrow muzzle.

3. any of various related or similar animals, as the palm civet.

4. cacomistle.

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civet British  

/ ˈsɪvɪt /

noun

1. any catlike viverrine mammal of the genus Viverra and related genera, of Africa and S Asia, typically having blotched or spotted fur and secreting a powerfully smelling fluid from anal glands

2. the yellowish fatty secretion of such an animal, used as a fixative in the manufacture of perfumes

3. the fur of such an animal

4. short for palm civet

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Other Word Forms

• civetlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of civet

1525–35; < Middle French civette < Catalan civetta ≪ Arabic zabād civet perfume; zibet

Example Sentences

Even Walmart’s website sells a roughly two-pound bag of Kopi Luwak coffee, which is made of beans excreted by a civet, for $449.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025

Compound-specific nitrogen isotope analysis of amino acids was completed on the hair of two individuals for each civet species, insect, and plant samples.

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2024

For producers trying to maximize civet coffee, however, it’s easier and cheaper to just buy a new civet rather than keep the animals healthy, Nijman says.

From National Geographic • Dec. 12, 2023

Viruses leap from bats to humans either by way of an intermediary host, such as a pig, chimpanzee or civet, or more directly through human contact with bat urine, feces, blood, or saliva.

From Reuters • May 16, 2023

“What I do happen to know,” I said, being maybe a tiny bit coy, “is that a civet cat got all of the Nguzas’ hens last Sunday.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver