noun
Uncommon
coyote
koy-OHT
Coyote (noun) means a wild dog-like animal native to North America, smaller than a wolf. Example: “A coyote howled somewhere out in the desert at night.”
noun
1
A wild dog-like animal native to North America, smaller than a wolf.
"A coyote howled somewhere out in the desert at night."
2
Informal: a person who smuggles migrants across a border for payment.
"The family paid a coyote thousands of dollars to guide them across the border."
How to use coyote
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA North American wild canine, or, in slang, someone paid to smuggle people across a border.
Common pairings
coyote howling
pack of coyotes
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Word forms
- Plural
- coyotes
- Third person singular
- coyotes
- Past tense
- coyoted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ howled somewhere out in the desert at night.
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish coyote, itself from a Nahuatl (Aztec) word.
Synonyms
View more →
brush wolf
prairie wolf
Rhymes for coyote
See all rhymes for coyote →Frequently asked questions
What does “coyote” mean?
The word “coyote” means a wild dog-like animal native to North America, smaller than a wolf. In plain terms, a North American wild canine, or, in slang, someone paid to smuggle people across a border.
How do you pronounce “coyote”?
“Coyote” is pronounced koy-OHT (/kəˈjoʊ.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “coyote” in a sentence?
Here is “coyote” used in a sentence: “A coyote howled somewhere out in the desert at night.”
What part of speech is “coyote”?
“Coyote” is a noun.
Where does the word “coyote” come from?
The word “coyote” comes from Spanish. Borrowed from Spanish coyote, itself from a Nahuatl (Aztec) word.
Is “coyote” a common word?
“Coyote” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “coyote” have?
“Coyote” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wild dog-like animal native to North America, smaller than a wolf.
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