canary: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to informal, depending on sense. The bird sense is neutral; 'informer' sense is informal/slang.
Quick answer
What does “canary” mean?
A small, brightly coloured yellow songbird of the finch family, often kept as a cage bird.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, brightly coloured yellow songbird of the finch family, often kept as a cage bird.
1. A bright, clear yellow colour. 2. A person, especially a singer, who performs for others. 3. (Historical) A miner's caged bird used to detect dangerous gases. 4. (Informal) An informer, especially for the police.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning. The 'canary in the coal mine' idiom is equally common. The informal 'informer' sense might be slightly more established in UK usage.
Connotations
Primarily positive for the bird (cheerful, bright). The 'informer' sense is negative. The 'mine canary' sense carries connotations of early warning and vulnerability.
Frequency
The bird sense is moderately common. The 'canary yellow' colour term is common. The 'early warning' idiom is common in analytical/political writing.
Grammar
How to Use “canary” in a Sentence
The canary sang.They used a canary as [a warning/detector].He was a canary for the police.The walls were painted canary.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “canary” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Rare/obsolete) 'To canary' meant to frolic or engage in lighthearted behaviour.
American English
- (Slang) The suspect decided to canary and give up the whole operation.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- She preferred the canary cushion to the lemon one.
American English
- He drove a vintage, canary-colored convertible.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The falling sales are a canary in the coal mine for the entire sector.'
Academic
Used in historical/biological contexts: 'The domestic canary (Serinus canaria domestica) is a domesticated form of the wild canary.'
Everyday
Referring to the pet bird or the colour: 'She wore a lovely canary yellow dress.'
Technical
Historical mining term, now a metaphor in risk management and environmental science for an early indicator of danger.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “canary”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “canary”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “canary”
- Spelling: 'canarry' or 'cannary' (incorrect). Pronunciation: stressing the first syllable /ˈkænəri/ is less common. Using the 'informer' sense in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the primary meaning refers to the bird, it is commonly used to describe a vivid yellow colour and, metaphorically, as an early warning sign or an informer.
It comes from the historical practice of miners taking caged canaries underground. The birds are sensitive to toxic gases like carbon monoxide; if the canary became sick or died, it was a warning for the miners to evacuate.
Very rarely in modern English. There is an obsolete sense meaning 'to frolic'. In contemporary slang, it is sometimes used to mean 'to inform on someone', but this is non-standard.
'Canary yellow' specifies a particular shade: a bright, vivid, warm yellow, reminiscent of the bird's plumage. It is more specific than the generic term 'yellow'.
A small, brightly coloured yellow songbird of the finch family, often kept as a cage bird.
Canary is usually neutral to informal, depending on sense. the bird sense is neutral; 'informer' sense is informal/slang. in register.
Canary: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈneə.ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈner.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A canary in a coal mine”
- “Sing like a canary”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CANARY: A CAGED NICE AMBER RED-YELLOW bird. (Focuses on captivity and distinctive colour.)
Conceptual Metaphor
VULNERABLE ENTITY AS EARLY WARNING SYSTEM (The canary in the coal mine). INFORMER AS A BIRD THAT SINGS (Reveals secrets).
Practice
Quiz
In informal slang, if someone 'sings like a canary', it means they: