canine

American  

[key-nahyn] / ˈkeɪ naɪn /

adjective

1. of or like a dog; relating to or characteristic of dogs.

   canine loyalty.

2. Anatomy, Zoology. of or relating to the four pointed teeth, especially prominent in dogs, situated one on each side of each jaw, next to the incisors.

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noun

1. a canid, or member of the dog family Canidae.

2. a dog.

3. a canine tooth; cuspid.

canine British  

/ ˈkeɪnaɪn, ˈkæn- /

adjective

1. of or resembling a dog; doglike

2. of, relating to, or belonging to the Canidae, a family of mammals, including dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes, typically having a bushy tail, erect ears, and a long muzzle: order Carnivora (carnivores)

3. of or relating to any of the four teeth, two in each jaw, situated between the incisors and the premolars

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noun

1. any animal of the family Canidae

2. a canine tooth

canine Scientific  

/ kā′nīn /

1. Characteristic of or resembling dogs, wolves, or related animals.

2. Relating to any of the four pointed teeth located behind the incisors in most mammals. In carnivores, the canine teeth are adapted for cutting and tearing meat.

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1. A canine tooth.

Other Word Forms

• caninity noun
• supercanine adjective

Etymology

Origin of canine

1350–1400; Middle English canine canine tooth (< Middle French ) < Latin canīnus, equivalent to can ( is ) dog + -īnus -ine ¹

Explanation

Canine is how zoologists refer to all mammals with snouts and non-retractable claws. Sound familiar? That's right, Fido is a canine. (All dogs are.) Coyotes and wolves are canines, too. The sharp pointy teeth in your mouth are also called canines. Like wolves, we use these sharp incisors to tear meat from the bone, though these days we tend to get some help in that department from knives and forks. Fun fact: The police call their drug-sniffing dogs the K-9 unit. Get it?

Example Sentences

The cancer wasn’t cured but was greatly reduced, improving the quality of life for his canine companion.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

By comparing canine and molar teeth, they reconstructed patterns of development during the first six years of life.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

The final novel from Mario Vargas Llosa, Allegra Goodman’s family saga, a case of canine possession and more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

You get a contact high from the canine joy.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

First a cascade of shrew-like creatures with canine fangs, soaking wet, a dozen of them, and then a great horde of what looked like large green-horned squirrels, wailing and crying out—“Run! Run!” —as they went.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• mutt
• pooch
• pup