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• lynx
  lynx

  noun

  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.
• Lynx
  Lynx

  noun

  a faint constellation in the N hemisphere lying between Ursa Major and Cancer

lynx

American  

[lingks] / lɪŋks /

noun

lynxes plural

1. 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.

2. (initial capital letter) a northern constellation between Ursa Major and Auriga.

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lynx ¹ British  

/ lɪŋks /

noun

1. a feline mammal, Felis lynx (or canadensis ), of Europe and North America, with grey-brown mottled fur, tufted ears, and a short tail

2. the fur of this animal

3. another name for bobcat

4. another name for caracal

5. Also called: Polish lynx.  a large fancy pigeon from Poland, with spangled or laced markings

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Lynx ² British  

/ lɪŋks /

noun

1. a faint constellation in the N hemisphere lying between Ursa Major and Cancer

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Other Word Forms

• lynxlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lynx

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin, from Greek lýnx

Compare meaning

How does lynx compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• lynx vs. bobcat
• caracal vs. lynx

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

In the lead-up to the 2025 season, Stanford alum Karlie Samuelson boarded a flight as a member of the Mystics and learned when she landed that she had been traded to the Minnesota Lynx.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

Lynx were once native to Scotland before dying out hundreds of years ago.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026

Trees for Life, which has a 10,000-acre rewilding estate in the Scottish Highlands, says: "Lynx could bring a wide range of ecological and societal benefits to Scotland."

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2025

Clark said she had “great respect” for the Lynx star and that Collier “made a lot of valid points.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

‘And what kind of creature? Boar? Lynx? We should’ve asked.’

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• bobcat
• wildcat