chipmunk

noun

chip·​munk ˈchip-ˌməŋk How to pronounce chipmunk (audio)
: any of a genus (Tamias) of small striped North American and Asian rodents of the squirrel family

Examples of chipmunk 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.
There are always squirrels, chipmunks and birds to cheer you on, with the occasional rabbit or deer for good measure. Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026 For me, the rewards—laying the first tracks of the day, smelling the forest after a fresh rain, and making eye contact with a chipmunk—far outweigh the risks. Katie Jackson, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026 In this way, the jeans guys are akin to other gentle curiosities, such as the shorts guys who alight on college campuses in wintertime, and the black chipmunks that scamper by from time to time in city parks. Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026 Martens are carnivores known to eat birds and their eggs, small mammals like chipmunks, berries, and nuts. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chipmunk

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier chitmunk, probably from Ojibwa ačitamo·nʔ red squirrel

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chipmunk was in 1830

Cite this Entry

“Chipmunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chipmunk. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

chipmunk

noun
chip·​munk ˈchip-ˌməŋk How to pronounce chipmunk (audio)
: any of numerous small striped animals of North America and Asia related to the squirrels

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