mongoose

noun

mon·​goose ˈmän-ˌgüs  ˈmäŋ- 

plural mongooses also mongeese ˈmän-ˌgēs 

ˈmäŋ-

: any of numerous long slender carnivorous mammals (family Herpestidae) chiefly of Africa and southern Europe and Asia that are usually ferret-sized agile mammals typically with nonretractile sharp claws, short legs, long tail, and usually brownish or grayish fur sometimes with bands or stripes

Note: Mongooses feed chiefly on small animals (such as insects, earthworms, birds, snakes, and rodents) and are sometimes grouped with the viverrids in two subfamilies (Herpestinae and Galidiinae).

Illustration of mongoose

Examples of mongoose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The arrival of Europeans introduced invasive predators like rats, cats and mongooses to the island, which likely decimated the ground-dwelling Cuban kestrel. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

Adults are also hunted by caracals, leopards, mongooses, fur seals and sharks. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025

The survey also recorded civets, wild boars, other squirrel species, several rat and shrew species, a variety of bats and a mongoose. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025

An occasional shy mongoose takes cover amid the nodding Colocasias and glossy water lilies. —Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Marathi mãgūs, from Prakrit maṁgūsa

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mongoose

noun

mon·​goose ˈmän-ˌgüs  ˈmäŋ- 

plural mongooses

: any of various quick-moving mammals with a long slender body and long tail that are about the size of a ferret and feed chiefly on small animals and fruit