vulpine
Americanadjective
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of or resembling a fox.
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cunning or crafty.
adjective
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Also: vulpecular. of, relating to, or resembling a fox
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possessing the characteristics often attributed to foxes; crafty, clever, etc
Etymology
Origin of vulpine
First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin vulpīnus, equivalent to vulp(ēs) “fox” + -īnus adjective suffix; see origin at -ine 1; from the same root as Greek alṓpēx and alōpós “fox”
Explanation
You may encounter a vulpine smile, a vulpine movie director, or a vulpine laugh — whatever it is, be on guard. The word vulpine describes something that is crafty like a fox. The word vulpine traces back to the word vulpes, the Latin word for “fox,” and the word can be used literally to describe something directly related to a fox. Nowadays, however, you’re more likely to hear it used to describe something that has the characteristics of a fox. Many cultures associate the fox with cunning and shrewdness, and the word vulpine has come to be used to describe something that has a crafty, intelligent, slightly predatory quality.
Vocabulary lists containing vulpine
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Uglies
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Animal Adjectives
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ George Clooney is at his vulpine best as the voice of the titular woodland critter in Wes Anderson’s stop-motion-animated 2009 charmer based on the Roald Dahl children’s novel.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2021
It cuts to black just as its protagonist is in a room alone with her sister, who’s been revealed as a vulpine predator.
From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2018
Rosenberg’s vulpine versatility produces quick changes of tone.
From The New Yorker ● Jun. 27, 2018
But she’s wilier than you expect, bringing to the part the same vulpine alertness to opportunity she demonstrated as a political Eve Harrington type in “The City of Conversation,” also by Mr. Giardina.
From New York Times ● Jun. 7, 2018
Tally turned away from the vulpine eyes, shut out the razor- blade voice.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
