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canaries

  • plural
    of canary.
    canary
    noun
    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.

Example Sentences

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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