canary

American  

[kuh-nair-ee] / kəˈnɛər i /

noun

plural

canaries

1. any of several Old World finches of the genus Serinus, especially S. canaria common canary, native to the Canary Islands and often kept as a pet, in the wild being greenish with brown streaks above and yellow below and in domesticated varieties usually bright yellow or pale yellow.

2. Also called canary yellow.  a light, clear yellow color.

   They sell a shimmer eyeshadow in canary that would look nice with your coloring.

3. Slang. informer.

4. Slang. a female singer, especially with a dance band.

5. a sweet white wine of the Canary Islands, resembling sherry.

6. Also called canary diamond.  a yellow diamond.

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adjective

1. having a light, clear yellow color.

   That canary sweater would pair well with your golden skirt.

idioms

1. the cat that ate / swallowed / got the canary. cat.

2. canary in the coal mine, someone or something that serves as an early warning sign of danger or trouble to come.

   These fish are the canaries in the coal mine, so when they die off in unusually high numbers, that's an indicator of the river's health.

canary British  

/ kəˈnɛərɪ /

noun

1. a small finch, Serinus canaria, of the Canary Islands and Azores: a popular cagebird noted for its singing. Wild canaries are streaked yellow and brown, but most domestic breeds are pure yellow

2. See canary yellow

3. history a convict

4. archaic a sweet wine from the Canary Islands similar to Madeira

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canary More Idioms  

1. see look like the cat that ate the canary.

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Etymology

Origin of canary

First recorded in 1585–95; from Spanish (Isla) Canaria, from Latin Canāria (insula) “Dog (Island),” from can(is) “dog” ( hound ) + -āria, feminine of -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

Citrini’s essay ends with a line that deserves more attention than the doom that preceded it: “The canary is still alive.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

"There is a canary in the coal mine here," he said.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

First Brands filed for bankruptcy protection last year; it may be the canary in the coal mine.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

There is also growing concern within the House Republican caucus that Greene’s announcement is a canary in the coal mine and that multiple resignations will follow.

From Salon • Dec. 29, 2025

It would be like Felicidad, Mamita's little canary, in her birdcage.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

• belt out
• chant
• croon
• hum
• intone
• serenade
• shout
• wait
• warble
• whistle