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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 notes

In plain EnglishA North American wild canine, or, in slang, someone paid to smuggle people across a border.

Common pairings
coyote howling pack of coyotes

Word forms

coyoted past tense, coyotes plural, coyotes singular

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Test yourself on “coyote” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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.

Origin: Spanish

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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