raccoon

noun

rac·​coon ra-ˈkün 

 also  rə-

variants or less commonly racoon

plural raccoon or raccoons also racoon or racoons

1

a

: a small nocturnal carnivore (Procyon lotor) of North America that is chiefly gray, has a black mask and bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees, and has a varied diet including small animals, fruits, and nuts

b

: the pelt of this animal

2

: any of several animals resembling or related to the raccoon

Illustration of raccoon

• raccoon 1a

Examples of raccoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Coyotes can also help manage the city’s rodent problem and keep other wildlife populations, like Canada geese and raccoons, in check. —David Lei, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025

Suddenly, a raccoon popped out from the bleachers, sauntered over the actors’ entrance tunnel, and vanished under a seat. —Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 30 June 2025

About the size of a raccoon, this large lizard was an ancestor of the Gila monster — a venomous lizard found in the American Southwest and Northwest Mexico. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2025

On his charcoal gray T-shirt, a raccoon wore rainbow sunglasses and held a pride flag. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Virginia Algonquian raugroughcun, arocoun

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing raccoon

• raccoon dog

Rhymes for raccoon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn

Kids Definition

raccoon

noun

rac·​coon

variants also racoon

ra-ˈkün

plural raccoon or raccoons also racoon or racoons

: a small North American mammal that is mostly gray with a black mask, has a bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees and is active at night, and eats a varied diet including small animals, fruits, eggs, and insects

also : the pelt of a raccoon

Etymology

Virginia Algonquian raugroughcoon, arocoun "racoon"