fox

UK: /ˈfɒks/ US: /fɑks/ ,(foks)

Inflections of 'fox' (n):

foxes

npl (All usages)

fox

npl (Can be used as a collective plural—e.g. "People wear furs made out of fox.")

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

fox /fɑks/   n., pl. fox•es, (esp. when thought of as a group) fox, v. 
n. 

1. Mammals [countable] a small member of the dog family having a sharply pointed nose and face and a long bushy tail.
2. Clothing [uncountable] the fur of this animal.
3. [countable] a cunning or crafty person.
4. Slang Terms [countable] an attractive young woman.

v. [~ + object]

5. to trick:
   foxed me out of $10.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fox  (foks), n., pl. fox•es, (esp. collectively) fox, v. 
n. 

1. Mammals any of several carnivores of the dog family, esp. those of the genus Vulpes, smaller than wolves, having a pointed, slightly upturned muzzle, erect ears, and a long, bushy tail.
2. Clothing the fur of this animal.
3. a cunning or crafty person.
4. Language Varieties (cap.) a member of a tribe of North American Algonquian Indians, formerly in Wisconsin, later merged with the Sauk tribe.
5. Language Varieties (cap.) the Algonquian language of the Fox, Sauk, and Kickapoo Indians.
6. Bible a scavenger, perhaps the jackal. Psalms 63:10;
   Lam. 5:18.
7. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter F: replaced by Foxtrot.
8. Slang Terms an attractive young woman or young man.

v.t. 

9. to deceive or trick.
10. Clothing to repair or make (a shoe) with leather or other material applied so as to cover or form part of the upper front.
11. [Obs.] to intoxicate or befuddle.

v.i. 

12. to act cunningly or craftily.
13. (of book leaves, prints, etc.) to become foxed.

• bef. 900; 1960–65 for def. 9; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old Saxon vohs, Middle Low German vos, Old High German fuhs (German Fuchs). Cf. vixen

fox′like′, adj. 

Fox  (foks), n. 

1. Biographical Charles James, 1749–1806, British orator and statesman.
2. Biographical George, 1624–91, English religious leader and writer: founder of the Society of Friends.
3. Biographical John. See Foxe, John. 
4. Biographical John William, Jr., 1863–1919, U.S. novelist.
5. Biographical Margaret, 1833–93, and her sister Katherine ("Kate''), 1839–92, U.S. spiritualist mediums, born in Canada.
6. Biographical Sir William, 1812–93, New Zealand statesman, born in England: prime minister 1856, 1861–62, 1869–72, 1873.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fox / fɒks/ noun (foxes, fox)

1. any canine mammal of the genus Vulpes and related genera. They are mostly predators that do not hunt in packs and typically have large pointed ears, a pointed muzzle, and a bushy tail
2. the fur of any of these animals, usually reddish-brown or grey in colour
3. a person who is cunning and sly

verb

1. (transitive) to perplex or confound: to fox a person with a problem
2. to cause (paper, wood, etc) to become discoloured with spots, or (of paper, etc) to become discoloured, as through mildew
3. (transitive) to trick; deceive
4. (intransitive) to act deceitfully or craftily

Etymology: Old English; related to Old High German fuhs, Old Norse fōa fox, Sanskrit puccha tail; see vixen

ˈfoxˌlike adjective

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Fox / fɒks/ noun

1. Charles James. 1749–1806, British Whig statesman and orator. He opposed North over taxation of the American colonies and Pitt over British intervention against the French Revolution. He advocated parliamentary reform and the abolition of the slave trade
2. George. 1624–91, English religious leader; founder (1647) of the Society of Friends (Quakers)
3. Terry, full name Terrance Stanley Fox (1958–81). Canadian athlete: he lost a leg to cancer and subsequently attempted a coast-to-coast run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research
4. Vicente (Spanish viˈθɛnte ). born 1942, Mexican politician; president of Mexico (2000-06)
5. Sir William. 1812–93, New Zealand statesman, born in England: prime minister of New Zealand (1856; 1861–62; 1869–72; 1873)