canaries in coal mines

A form of canary in a coal mine — Something whose sensitivity to adverse conditions makes it a useful early indicator of such conditions; something which warns of the coming of a greater danger or trouble by a deterioration in its health or welfare.

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Meanings

noun
  1. pluralplural of canary in a coal mine
Cite this entry
APA

canaries in coal mines. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/canaries%20in%20coal%20mines

MLA

“canaries in coal mines.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/canaries%20in%20coal%20mines. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “canaries in coal mines,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/canaries%20in%20coal%20mines.

Source: canaries in coal mines on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.