possibly extinct in the wild

[ pos-uh-blee ik-stingkt in thuh wahyld ]

adjective

, Biology, Ecology.

1. (as categorized by the IUCN Red List ) critically endangered to such an extent that evidence of its existence outside of captivity or a naturalized population is profoundly limited and extremely difficult to verify: : PEW

   We do have nine of these macaws in our aviary, but the species is possibly extinct in the wild.

Word History and Origins

Origin of possibly extinct in the wild¹

First recorded in 2005–10