coati

noun

co·​a·​ti kə-ˈwä-tē How to pronounce coati (audio)
kō-ˈä-,
kwä-ˈtē How to pronounce coati (audio)
1
: any of several tropical American mammals (genera Nasua and Nasuella) related to the raccoon but with a longer body and tail and a long flexible snout
2

Illustration of coati

Illustration of coati

Examples of coati in a Sentence

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.
While visitors to Reserva Conchal can spot iconic Costa Rican animals like the mantled howler monkey, white-nosed coati and elegant trogon during a visit, the property has also mastered the art of hospitality, with two prestigious hotels located within its boundaries. Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025 The coati is a civet-like animal native to Central and South America and is related to the Asian civet. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 Sometimes a coati, a javelina or a roadrunner shows up in the parking lot. Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024 And here was the print of a coati. Guest, Discover Magazine, 16 June 2015 Skunk, bear, and coati walk these trails along the ditch. Citizen Science Salon, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2015 And for Johnny the coati, a distant relative of the racoon, that means enticing him with a spoonful of honey inside of a plastic container, prompting him to stick his head inside while a vet administers the vaccine. San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2021 Larissa Pratta Campos, a veterinary student, has helped treat wild boar, marsh deer, birds, primates and a raccoon-like creature called a coati. Scott Reinhard, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2020 Many, like the coati—a raccoon relative—are found wandering along the roadside, dehydrated and exhausted. Jill Langlois, National Geographic, 2 Oct. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese quati, coati, from Tupi kwáti

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coati was in 1676

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coati.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coati. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

coati

noun
co·​ati
kə-ˈwät-ē,
kwä-ˈtē
: a tropical American mammal related to the raccoon but with a longer body and tail and a long flexible snout

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