any of several wildcats of the genus Lynx (orFelis ), having long limbs, a short tail, and usually tufted ears, especially L. lynx Canada lynx, of Canada and the northern United States, having grayish-brown fur marked with white.
(initial capital letter) a northern constellation between Ursa Major and Auriga.
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin, from Greek lýnx
How does lynx compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
A lynx is a wild cat with distinctive tufts on the tips of its ears that give it extra-sensitive hearing. Many species of lynx live in northern climates and use their huge paws as snowshoes. The lynx is known for its tufted ears, snowshoe paws, and lush, spotted fur. Because of this fur, lynx have been aggressively hunted by humans for centuries. Today many species of lynx are endangered, and while Canada lynx have a stable population, they are dependent on snowshoe hares, their preferred prey. Some etymologists guess that lynx comes from a root meaning "brightness," referring to the cat's glowing yellow eyes.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Plans to reintroduce lynx to some northern parts of England have been opposed by councillors.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
The motion was put forward by non-aligned Rothbury councillor Steven Bridgett, who said the authority should oppose any proposals to reintroduce lynx in order to protect farming.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
An apparent sighting of a Canadian lynx was reported to DPP on 13 May 2025 in Port Henri, Carmarthenshire, and no action was taken.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
As the smooth highway north of Seville stretched into the vastness of pastoral Extremadura, the chances of finding a lynx, which remains rarer than the snow leopard or the Bengal tiger, felt impossibly small.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026
She was not a lynx or a spider or even the Wraith.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
While Unilever will focus on home and personal care with brands including Dove, Persil and Lynx.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
She finished with 24, leading the Lynx to a sixth consecutive victory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said that even in training camp, the team’s veteran players were gasping at Miles’s plays.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
“Congrats, Cheryl, so much from all the Thibault family,” Thibault said in a video posted on X by the Lynx.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
‘And what kind of creature? Boar? Lynx? We should’ve asked.’
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
BFA-related compounds in urine and renal lipid droplets were detected in several felid species, including lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, lynxes, and the Iriomote cat.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
Malthusian models and predator-prey equations, for example, have been used to examine the spread of Australian rabbits and the shifting populations of Canadian lynxes and snowshoe hares.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026
There is a small population of lynxes already living in the forest and this is one of their kills.
From BBC ● May 1, 2025
At the lowest point there were fewer than 100 lynxes left in two populations that didn't interact, and only 25 of them were females of reproductive age.
From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2025
Our eyes are peeled for bears, lynxes, wayward hunters—any creature that might call the mountains home.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
Sigma Orionis and 12 Lyncis, also Theta Cancri and Mu Bootis are good examples of triple stars.
From Astronomy: The Science of the Heavenly Bodies by David Peck Todd
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.
