: animal life
especially
: the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment
the diverse fauna of the island
compare flora
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
Additional history center events in January include a Lunch & Learn session about the Community Paper, Florida’s flora and fauna, the Scottish Highland Games and Orange County Heritage Day.
—
Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2024
While a typical conservation drive is perfect for a general glimpse into the flora and fauna that calls Namibia home, the Zannier Omaanda also invites guests on specialized drives in search of some of Africa’s most beloved creatures.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
The focus is on native flora and fauna, courtesy of local third-generation farm Anuhea Flowers, and the showcase piece is a giant wreath that greets guests on arrival.
—Catherine Garcia, theweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Australia’s biodiversity is so unique that most of the one million species of flora and fauna found there occur nowhere else in the world.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2024
While a typical conservation drive is perfect for a general glimpse into the flora and fauna that calls Namibia home, the Zannier Omaanda also invites guests on specialized drives in search of some of Africa’s most beloved creatures.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
The focus is on native flora and fauna, courtesy of local third-generation farm Anuhea Flowers, and the showcase piece is a giant wreath that greets guests on arrival.
—Catherine Garcia, theweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Australia’s biodiversity is so unique that most of the one million species of flora and fauna found there occur nowhere else in the world.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fauna
Dictionary Entries Near fauna
Cite this Entry
“Fauna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fauna. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.
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Medical Definition
fauna
noun
fau·na
ˈfȯn-ə, ˈfän- 
: animal life
especially
: the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment compare flora sense 1
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