hamster

noun

ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər 

: 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

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

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

Phrases Containing hamster

• golden hamster
• Syrian hamster

Kids Definition

hamster

noun

ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər 

: any of various small Old World rodents with a short tail and large cheek pouches

Medical Definition

hamster

noun

ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər 

: any of numerous Old World rodents (Cricetus or a related genus) having very large cheek pouches and including several used as laboratory animals