hyena

Or hy·ae·na

[hahy-ee-nuh]

noun

1. a doglike carnivore of the family Hyaenidae, of Africa, southwestern Asia, and south central Asia, having a coarse coat, a sloping back, and large teeth and feeding chiefly on carrion, often in packs.

hyena

/ haɪˈiːnə /

noun

1. any of several long-legged carnivorous doglike mammals of the genera Hyaena and Crocuta, such as C. crocuta ( spotted or laughing hyena ), of Africa and S Asia: family Hyaenidae, order Carnivora (carnivores) See also strandwolf

Other Word Forms

• hyenic adjective
• hyenine adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyena¹

1350–1400; Middle English hiena < Medieval Latin hyēna, Latin hyaena < Greek hýaina, equivalent to hy- (stem of hŷs ) hog + -aina feminine suffix; replacing Middle English hyane, hyene < Middle French hiene < Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyena¹

C16: from Medieval Latin, from Latin hyaena, from Greek huaina, from hus hog

Example Sentences

He set up his camera trap after spotting fresh hyena tracks in the ghost town of Kolmanskop, Namibia.

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The couple also advertised other animals through social media including hyenas, desert lynxes and pumas.

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This is a musical that treasures goofy imperfection, a scene where McInnerny does a funny little tap dance, or the joy in Shannon’s hyena cackle.

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Other coprolites contained bones chewed up by predators that, like today's hyenas, crushed bones to obtain salts and marrow.

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The pastor added that the men arrived with scarves over their faces and attacked with such ferocity they were like a "pack of hyenas".

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Related Words

• mutt 
• pooch 
• pup