noun

canary

kuh-NEH-uh-ree

noun

A small yellow finch popular as a caged songbird.

"The canary sang cheerfully in its cage by the window."

"Miners once carried a canary underground to detect dangerous gas."

Informally, an informer who reveals secrets to the authorities.

"The gang suspected someone had turned canary and tipped off the police."

In software or business, a small early test rollout of a change before it goes to everyone.

"The team pushed the update to a canary group of users first."

adj

A bright, light yellow colour.

"She wore a canary yellow dress to the party."

How to Use Canary

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost commonly the small yellow songbird, but also used for the colour, an informer, or an early test rollout of software.

Common mistake

The "canary in a coal mine" idiom refers to an early warning sign of danger, drawing on the old mining safety practice.

Common pairings

canary yellow canary in a coal mine canary release

more canary comparative, canaried past tense, canaries plural, Canaries plural, canaries singular, most canary superlative

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The _____ sang cheerfully in its cage by the window.

From Spanish canario, referring to the Canary Islands, which the Romans in turn named after their dogs (Latin canis).

vary Mary nary wary Gary Cary diary ovary weary scary teary deary