Procyon

American  

[proh-see-on] / ˈproʊ siˌɒn /

noun

Astronomy.

1. a first-magnitude star in the constellation Canis Minor.

---

Procyon British  

/ ˈprəʊsɪən /

noun

1. the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor, a binary with a very faint companion. Visual magnitude: 0.34; spectral type: F5IV; distance: 114 light years

---

Procyon Scientific  

/ prō′sē-ŏn′ /

1. A very bright binary star in the constellation Canis Minor, with an apparent magnitude of 0.34. Scientific name: Alpha Canis Minoris.

---

Etymology

Origin of Procyon

1650–60; < Latin < Greek Prokýōn name of a star, equivalent to pro- pro- ² + kýōn dog ( see hound ¹); so called because it rises just before Sirius, the Dog Star

Example Sentences

“Just because there’s one data point, I wouldn’t say that there’s a sign of economic weakness,” said Massimo Santicchia, head of U.S. equities at Procyon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

What he means is that if you had to identify which animal was going through your garbage, you'd call it a raccoon, rather than saying it was "a mammal" or Procyon lotor.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2023

Above were splendid views of Sirius and Procyon, two of the brightest stars in the velvet-black night sky.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 2, 2021

The star Antares has an apparent magnitude of 1.0, whereas the star Procyon has an apparent magnitude of 0.4.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

However, Procyon lotor is nocturnal, and this may allow it to eliminate, or at least reduce, the need for evaporative cooling, even in hot climates.

From Metabolic Adaptation to Climate and Distribution of the Raccoon Procyon Lotor and Other Procyonidae by Mahlke-Johnson, Kathleen P.