fauna

noun

fau·​na ˈfȯ-nə How to pronounce fauna (audio)
ˈfä-
plural faunas also faunae ˈfȯ-ˌnē How to pronounce fauna (audio) -ˌnī How to pronounce fauna (audio)
ˈfä-
: animal life
especially : the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment
the diverse fauna of the island
compare flora
faunal
ˈfȯ-nᵊl How to pronounce fauna (audio)
ˈfä-
adjective
faunally adverb

Did you know?

Faunus and Fauna were the Roman woodland god and goddess for whom animals were a particular concern. Faunus was the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Pan, and like Pan, he had goats' legs. Their goat-legged helpers, called fauns, were known for their love of pleasure and mischief. The fauna of a continent are often very similar across a broad east-west band; from north to south, however, they may vary greatly.

Examples of fauna in a Sentence

studying the diverse fauna of the island studying the faunas of different islands
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The dwelling’s relationship to the park and its native flora and fauna guided much of Helgerson’s brief for the interiors. David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2024 Climb the cabin’s scenic watchtower to scout for wildlife like ospreys, bald eagles, and deer, or catch more flora and fauna from the nearby hiking jaunts, including six-mile out-and-back Snoopers Rock Trail, roughly a 30-minute drive away. Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024 Catenary's Bloom scratchers, though, take it up a notch, using pet-safe dyes to create a beautiful, natural design mimicking flora and fauna. Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024 Six generations later, the business still blooms: Their own custom designs, which have been decorator go-tos for decades, retain the flora and fauna of these original references. Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fauna 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin Fauna, sister of Faunus

First Known Use

1771, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fauna was in 1771

Dictionary Entries Near fauna

Cite this Entry

“Fauna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fauna. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

fauna

noun
fau·​na ˈfȯn-ə How to pronounce fauna (audio)
ˈfän-
plural faunas also faunae -ˌē How to pronounce fauna (audio)
-ˌī
: animals or animal life especially of a region, period, or environment
faunal adjective

Medical Definition

fauna

noun
plural faunas also faunae -ˌē How to pronounce fauna (audio) -ˌī How to pronounce fauna (audio)
: animal life
especially : the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment compare flora sense 1
faunal adjective
faunally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on fauna

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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