lynx

noun

ˈliŋ(k)s 

plural lynx or lynxes

1

: any of several wildcats (genus Lynx) with relatively long legs, a short stubby tail, mottled coat, and usually tufted ears: such as

a

: a lynx (L. lynx) of northern Europe and Asia

b

: bobcat

c

: a North American lynx (L. canadensis) distinguished from the bobcat by its larger size, longer tufted ears, and wholly black tail tip

called also Canadian lynx

2

Lynx astronomy : a dim northern constellation that is visible between the constellations of Ursa Major and Gemini and that is represented by the figure of a lynx

… Johannes Hevelius named this new constellation Lynx because only an observer with "the eyes of a lynx" could see its faint shape.

—Richard Berry

Illustration of lynx

Examples of lynx in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The missing lynx In 1988, the Environment Conservation and Management Division of the Council of Europe commissioned the first-ever comprehensive assessment of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), which includes the Balkan subspecies. —Emily Soreghan, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024

Making clothes fit for the ice age In November, a team in Wyoming proposed the idea that Paleolithic North Americans likely made needles using the bones of foxes, hares, rabbits, bobcats, mountain lions, lynx, and even the now-extinct American cheetah. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 26 Dec. 2024

The state established lynx protection zones in critical habitats there in 2015 since the animals are protected under the Endangered Species Act. —Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

Colorado: trophy hunting Colorado voters appear to have rejected Proposition 127, which would have banned trophy hunting of mountain lions, lynx, and bobcats in the state. —Byhannah Richter, science.org, 7 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek; akin to Old English lox lynx and probably to Greek leukos white — more at light

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing lynx

• Canada lynx
• Canadian lynx
• lynx-eyed

Kids Definition

lynx

noun

ˈliŋ(k)s 

plural lynx or lynxes

1

: a large North American wildcat with rather long legs, a short stubby black-tipped tail, a coat marked with spots and blotches, soft fur, ears with small bunches of long fur at the tip, and large padded feet

called also Canada lynx

2

: any of several related wildcats (as the bobcat)