fauna
Americannoun
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the animals of a given region or period considered as a whole.
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a treatise on the animals of a given region or period.
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(initial capital letter) Bona Dea.
noun
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all the animal life of a given place or time, esp when distinguished from the plant life (flora)
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a descriptive list of such animals
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of fauna
1765–75; < New Latin, special use of Latin Fauna, a feminine counterpart to Faunus; cf. Flora
Explanation
When you go on a nature walk in a school setting, your teacher might tell you to observe the flora and fauna in the woods. Flora is plant life; fauna refers to animals. Fauna derives from the name of a Roman goddess, but the handiest way to remember the difference between flora and fauna is that flora sounds like flowers, which are part of the plant world; fauna, however, sounds like "fawn," and fawns are part of the animal kingdom.
Vocabulary lists containing fauna
Physical Geography - Introductory
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Physical Geography - Middle School
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
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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.
The Channel Islands, an archipelago that includes three additional islands outside the park, are nicknamed the “Galapagos of North America” for the flora and fauna found only there.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
"We believe this was a major driver for the evolutionary diversification of birds and other fauna in the North Island."
From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026
When a young boy takes over a beaver-bot to stop a construction company’s plan to destroy the local habitat, he accidentally launches an uprising against all humanity among the local fauna.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026
"These habitats are exceptionally rare, rich in biodiversity, support unique flora and fauna, and are impossible to recreate or replace," he said.
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
His siblings would recall him careening about, hurdling flora, fauna, and furniture.
From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand
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.
