fang

1 of 2

noun (1)

1
a
: a long sharp tooth: such as
(1)
: one by which an animal's prey is seized and held or torn
(2)
: one of the long hollow or grooved and often erectile teeth of a venomous snake
b
: one of the chelicerae of a spider at the tip of which a poison gland opens
2
: the root of a tooth or one of the processes or prongs into which a root divides
3
: a projecting tooth or prong
fanged adjective
variants or less commonly Fan
plural Fang or Fangs also Fan or Fans
1
: a member of a Bantu-speaking people of northern Gabon, mainland Equatorial Guinea, and southern Cameroon
2
: the language of the Fang people

Examples of fang in a Sentence

Noun (1) the fangs of a rattlesnake a tiger baring its fangs
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The fangs were an aspect that took a lot of working out — ultimately the unicorns’ teeth are modeled on mandrill teeth, which are flat in the front but also have more sinister-looking, fang-like incisors, and on wolf teeth as well, given how carnivorous the unicorns end up being. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 Mar. 2025 Interestingly, the study noted that the southern house wren (Troglodytes musculus) — despite being the island’s most abundant resident species — was able to avoid the viper’s deadly fangs. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 But yeah, so interesting to spend your days covered in blood and fangs. Brianne Tracy, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025 Cobras and mambas have short, erect fangs at the front of the mouth that inject neurotoxins under the skin, paralyzing the victims. Brian Otieno, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fang

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, that which is taken, from Old English; akin to Old High German fang seizure, Old English fōn to seize — more at pact

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fang was in 1555

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fang.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fang. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

fang

noun
1
a
: one of the long sharp teeth which are used by an animal to seize, hold, and tear apart its prey
b
: one of the long hollow or grooved teeth of a poisonous snake
2
: a root of a tooth
fanged adjective

Medical Definition

fang

noun
1
a
: a long sharp tooth: as
(1)
: one by which an animal's prey is seized and held or torn
(2)
: one of the long hollow or grooved and often erectile teeth of a venomous snake
b
: one of a spider's chelicerae at the tip of which a poison gland opens
2
: the root of a tooth or one of the processes or prongs into which a root divides
fanged adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on fang

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!