lemming

noun

lem·​ming ˈle-miŋ How to pronounce lemming (audio)
: any of various small short-tailed furry-footed rodents (such as genera Lemmus and Dicrostonyx) of circumpolar distribution that are notable for population fluctuations and recurrent mass migrations
Lemmings are the locusts of mammals, and they will strip a habitat bare. Then, they begin migrating forward to find a new feeding ground, swarming over boulders, around trees, whatever stands in their way. If they run into a body of water, they try to swim across.Natalie Angier
lemminglike adjective
Lured by stock prices defying gravity and handsome bond yields, Americans have marched into the funds in lemminglike fashion. Penelope Wang and David Pauly

Examples of lemming in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But there was no fountain of youth back then, Brenner noted, and the latest claims of its existence are sure to ultimately disappoint the long lines of lemmings. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Many were uncommitted watch flippers and wannabe ballers who have now begun to drop off waiting lists like lemmings, which means there are more opportunities to acquire pieces for those of us who actually love horology to play. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2024 In the Arctic, there’s small nibblers like lemmings, but there are also big nibblers with fangs, like wolves and foxes. Sarah Scoles, Quanta Magazine, 20 Sep. 2023 Except that the Norwegian lemming, Lemmus lemmus, isn't quite normal. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2015 The excuses are lemmings, following one another over the cliff. San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2023 More lemmings feed more owls, but if a prosperous lemming season is not followed by another with the same productivity, an ecosystem can crash. Cara Korte, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2021 Many reviewers have emphasized Robb’s critiques of ballet culture, concluding that the women who still engage with it must harbor self-destructive impulses as inscrutable as those that drive lemmings off a cliff. Madison Mainwaring, The New Republic, 19 Apr. 2023 This technique is commonly found among Arctic animals, including hares, foxes, lemmings and a bird called the ptarmigan. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lemming.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Norwegian

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lemming was in 1713

Dictionary Entries Near lemming

Cite this Entry

“Lemming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lemming. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lemming

noun
lem·​ming ˈlem-iŋ How to pronounce lemming (audio)
: any of several small short-tailed northern rodents with furry feet and small ears
especially : a European rodent that takes part in periodic mass migrations which often continue into the sea where large numbers are drowned

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