gerbil

noun

ger·​bil ˈjər-bəl 

variants or less commonly gerbille

: any of numerous Old World burrowing desert rodents (Gerbillus and related genera) with long hind legs adapted for leaping

Examples of gerbil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While it's still not known where this bacterium originated, ancient DNA points to a natural reservoir in wild gerbils in central Asia. —New Atlas, 11 Dec. 2025

Less fragile than rabbits and less skittish than hamsters or gerbils, guinea pigs tenderly coo, can be swaddled in baby blankets and are generally adored by their guardians. —Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 9 Dec. 2025

About a year after Martin began sleeping at the flat regularly, Grandad got you a gerbil for your birthday. —Literary Hub, 20 Nov. 2025

For small animals such as gerbils or chinchillas, co-sleeping isn’t safe due to their size, potty habits, and tendency to chew. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French gerbille, from New Latin Gerbillus, diminutive of gerboa, jerboa jerboa

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gerbil

• Mongolian gerbil

Rhymes for gerbil

• herbal
• verbal
• nonverbal
• preverbal

Kids Definition

gerbil

noun

ger·​bil ˈjər-bəl 

: any of several Old World desert rodents with long hind legs

Medical Definition

gerbil

noun

ger·​bil

variants also gerbille

ˈjər-bəl 

: any of numerous Old World burrowing desert rodents (Gerbillus and related genera) with long hind legs adapted for leaping