hamster

noun

ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər How to pronounce hamster (audio)
: any of a subfamily (Cricetinae) of small Old World rodents having very large cheek pouches

Examples of hamster 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.
Or that the hamster her daughter kept begging, begging, begging Linda to get turns out to be a raging, biting terror? David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025 However, buying supplies for a new hamster can really add up, and the hamster cage is the most expensive part. Jessie Quinn, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 Instead of staging a standard elimination competition involving a hamster wheel maze, Reindeer Games introduced a diabolical twist. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025 Jellybean the hamster is one such puppet that makes complex subjects more digestible for young kids. Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hamster

Word History

Etymology

German, from Old High German hamustro, of Slavic origin; akin to Old Russian choměstorŭ hamster, of Iranian origin; akin to Avestan hamaēstar- oppressor

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hamster was in 1607

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Cite this Entry

“Hamster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hamster. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

hamster

noun
ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər How to pronounce hamster (audio)
: any of various small Old World rodents with a short tail and large cheek pouches

Medical Definition

hamster

noun
ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər How to pronounce hamster (audio)
: any of numerous Old World rodents (Cricetus or a related genus) having very large cheek pouches and including several used as laboratory animals

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