Meaning
A small fox of the species Vulpes zerda, found in the Sahara (excluding the coast) and having distinctive oversized ears.
Etymology
Origin: French
Etymology tree Proto-Mongolic *hüne- Proto-Mongolic *-gan Proto-Mongolic *hünegender. Classical Persian فَنَک (fanak)bor. Arabic فَنَك (fanak)bor. French fennecbor. English fennec Borrowed from French fennec, from Arabic فَنَك (fanak).
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
desert foxfenfennec fox
NYT Puzzle Appearances
No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.