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noun

dingo

DIHNG-goh

Dingo (noun) means a wild dog native to Australia. Example: “A dingo trotted along the dry riverbed at dusk.”

noun
1
A wild dog native to Australia.
"A dingo trotted along the dry riverbed at dusk."
2
Australian slang: a cowardly or treacherous person.
"Don't be a dingo and bail on us the night before the trip."
verb
1
Australian slang: to back out of an agreement or let someone down.
"He dingoed on the deal at the last minute."

How to use dingo

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAustralia's iconic wild dog, or, in slang, someone who cowardly backs out of a commitment.

When to use it

The slang senses are informal and mainly used in Australian English.

Word forms

dingoed past tense, dingos plural, dingoes plural, dingoes singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ trotted along the dry riverbed at dusk.

Etymology

Borrowed from Dharug "dingu", meaning a tame or domesticated dingo.

warrigal warragal

Related words

Rhymes for dingo

See all rhymes for dingo →

Frequently asked questions

What does “dingo” mean?

The word “dingo” means a wild dog native to Australia. In plain terms, australia's iconic wild dog, or, in slang, someone who cowardly backs out of a commitment.

How do you pronounce “dingo”?

“Dingo” is pronounced DIHNG-goh (/ˈdɪŋɡoʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “dingo” in a sentence?

Here is “dingo” used in a sentence: “A dingo trotted along the dry riverbed at dusk.”

What part of speech is “dingo”?

Depending on how it is used, “dingo” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “dingo” have?

“Dingo” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wild dog native to Australia.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial