noun
Uncommon
canary
kuh-NEH-uh-ree
Canary (noun) means a small yellow finch popular as a caged songbird. Example: “The canary sang cheerfully in its cage by the window.”
noun
1
A small yellow finch popular as a caged songbird.
"The canary sang cheerfully in its cage by the window."
"Miners once carried a canary underground to detect dangerous gas."
2
Informally, an informer who reveals secrets to the authorities.
"The gang suspected someone had turned canary and tipped off the police."
3
In software or business, a small early test rollout of a change before it goes to everyone.
"The team pushed the update to a canary group of users first."
adj
1
A bright, light yellow colour.
"She wore a canary yellow dress to the party."
How to use canary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly the small yellow songbird, but also used for the colour, an informer, or an early test rollout of software.
Common mistake
The "canary in a coal mine" idiom refers to an early warning sign of danger, drawing on the old mining safety practice.
Common pairings
canary yellow
canary in a coal mine
canary release
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Word forms
- Plural
- canaries
- Third person singular
- canaries
- Past tense
- canaried
- Comparative
- more canary
- Superlative
- most canary
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ sang cheerfully in its cage by the window.
Etymology
From Spanish canario, referring to the Canary Islands, which the Romans in turn named after their dogs (Latin canis).
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for canary
See all rhymes for canary →Frequently asked questions
What does “canary” mean?
The word “canary” means a small yellow finch popular as a caged songbird. In plain terms, most commonly the small yellow songbird, but also used for the colour, an informer, or an early test rollout of software.
How do you pronounce “canary”?
“Canary” is pronounced kuh-NEH-uh-ree (/kəˈnɛəɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “canary” in a sentence?
Here is “canary” used in a sentence: “The canary sang cheerfully in its cage by the window.”
What part of speech is “canary”?
Depending on how it is used, “canary” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “canary” come from?
The word “canary” comes from Latin. From Spanish canario, referring to the Canary Islands, which the Romans in turn named after their dogs (Latin canis).
Is “canary” a common word?
“Canary” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “canary” have?
“Canary” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small yellow finch popular as a caged songbird.
