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

• canines
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• caninity
  noun
• supercanine
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• canines
  plural

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

See Examples For:

canine canines

A 2022 peer-reviewed study of 11,574 dogs aged six to 18 years concluded that more physically active dogs had fewer current signs of canine cognitive dysfunction.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Their work focused on canine distemper virus, which produces a disease in ferrets that closely resembles measles.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026

Nowadays, that canine catastrophe is a dot in Muna's rear-view mirror.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

When a dog alerts to something, rescuers send a second animal to confirm the finding, said Sylvia Arango, a canine handler since 1998 who manages Sisu.

From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026

As Penelope and the Incorrigibles watched, the woman toddled down the street in happy communion with her canine companion, who now rode contented and collarless in her purse.

From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood

Research into augmentative and alternative communication systems has demonstrated that some dogs can learn to use soundboards that “speak” for the canines and combine concepts in unexpectedly sophisticated ways.

From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2026

But for those who may be allergic to dogs or live with cynophobia - the extreme fear of dogs or canines - they say the rise of dog-friendly spaces is a growing concern.

From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026

“Best in Show” is set inside the competitive world of dog shows and follows a handful of stage parents who enter their pampered canines in competitions around the country.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026

For his installation, titled "Dynamics of a Dog on a Leash" and first shown last year, Todo purchased three robot canines made by Chinese startup Unitree, costing thousands of dollars each.

From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026

The lips of her little mouth were parted to show her small sharp teeth, and the canines were longer and more pointed than the others.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• mutt
• pooch
• pup