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red fox

American  

noun

red foxes plural
  1. a fox, Vulpes vulpes, usually having orangish-red to reddish-brown fur.


red fox British  

noun

  1. the common fox, Vulpes vulpes , which has a reddish-brown coat: family Canidae , order Carnivora (carnivores)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of red fox

An Americanism dating back to 1630–40

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 mammals are: the bottlenose dolphin, the brown hare, the European hedgehog, the grey seal, the pine martin and the red fox.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

A red fox that managed to slip onto a US-bound ship in Britain was discovered by customs officers in the Port of New York, a zoo in the city has said.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

The Sierra Nevada red fox is a distinct lineage from the common red fox known for residing in high-elevation, remote mountainous regions.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

Ms Townsend studied and attached GPS collars to the Sierra Nevada red fox and the Pacific fisher, which is related to a badger, in attempts to track and preserve the species.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2025

She had once seen a picture in an old book of a red fox on a high rock surrounded by snarling dogs.

From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson

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