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

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

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

To find them, researchers traveled to Los Tuxtlas in Mexico and the Canary Islands of Spain.

From Science Daily • Jun. 14, 2026

Nearly 1,200 people died or went missing travelling from Africa to the Canary Islands last year, according to the International Organization for Migration, making it one of the world's deadliest migration routes.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

But it is officials on the Canary Islands, where that policy should play out, who are most damning.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

In the Canary Islands on Thursday and Friday, Leo will be joined by Sanchez to honour thousands of migrants who have died trying to reach Europe.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

She went to the Canary Islands to learn how they talk in whistles in the mountains.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina

Related Words

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