red deer

¹ American  

noun

1. a deer, Cervus elaphus, of Europe and Asia, having a reddish-brown summer coat.

2. the white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, in its summer coat.

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Red Deer ² American  

noun

1. a city in S central Alberta, in W Canada.

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Red Deer ¹ British  

noun

1. a town in S Alberta on the Red Deer River: trade centre for mixed farming, dairying region, and natural gas processing. Pop: 67 707 (2001)

2. a river in W Canada, in SW Alberta, flowing southeast into the South Saskatchewan River. Length: about 620 km (385 miles)

3. a river in W Canada, flowing east through Red Deer Lake into Lake Winnipegosis. Length: about 225 km (140 miles)

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red deer ² British  

noun

1. a large deer, Cervus elaphus , formerly widely distributed in the woodlands of Europe and Asia. The coat is reddish brown in summer and the short tail is surrounded by a patch of light-coloured hair

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Etymology

Origin of red deer

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75

Example Sentences

"Carrots are a real focus for them. They even dig potatoes up, believe it or not. The big red deer dig potatoes out of the ground," he explained.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

In the wild they prey on roe deer, young red deer and also hares and rabbits.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2025

Human land use, on the other hand, led to an increase in red deer density.

From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2024

Only when the three predators wolf, lynx and bear occurred together in one area did the number of red deer decrease.

From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2024

It smelt of reindeer and red deer and beaver, and fresh blood -and something else: a new smell that he hadn’t yet learnt.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver