vulpine

American  

[vuhl-pahyn, -pin] / ˈvʌl paɪn, -pɪn /

adjective

1. of or resembling a fox.

2. cunning or crafty.

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vulpine British  

/ ˈvʌlpaɪn /

adjective

1. Also: vulpecular.  of, relating to, or resembling a fox

2. possessing the characteristics often attributed to foxes; crafty, clever, etc

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Etymology

Origin of vulpine

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin vulpīnus, equivalent to vulp(ēs) “fox” + -īnus adjective suffix; see origin at -ine ¹; from the same root as Greek alṓpēx and alōpós “fox”

Explanation

You may encounter a vulpine smile, a vulpine movie director, or a vulpine laugh — whatever it is, be on guard. The word vulpine describes something that is crafty like a fox. The word vulpine traces back to the word vulpes, the Latin word for “fox,” and the word can be used literally to describe something directly related to a fox. Nowadays, however, you’re more likely to hear it used to describe something that has the characteristics of a fox. Many cultures associate the fox with cunning and shrewdness, and the word vulpine has come to be used to describe something that has a crafty, intelligent, slightly predatory quality.

Example Sentences

And now, for the first time, a specimen has been successfully GPS-collared and released back into the region — marking a major victory for conservation efforts to protect the elusive vulpine.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

Either way, the concept is best encapsulated by Jack Donaghy, the vulpine executive portrayed by Alec Baldwin in the presumably now problematic sitcom “30 Rock.”

From New York Times • Dec. 8, 2023

Wrote Frank: “I hope having to replace papers doesn’t negatively affect The Post’s financial status. Maybe The Post should consider expanding to this vulpine demographic and accepting payments in the form of rodent carcasses.”

From Washington Post • Aug. 4, 2021

It cuts to black just as its protagonist is in a room alone with her sister, who’s been revealed as a vulpine predator.

From Slate • Aug. 28, 2018

There was something vulpine about the way the woman sat in her comer by the courtyard, something reptilian about her eyes.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin