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

That was a raccoon on their head, right? —Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026

And finally… Remember the night in Major League Soccer when a raccoon stopped play (before it was caught in a trash can)? —Phil Hay, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026

But toads and frogs are also prey animals for owls, hawks, skunks, opossums, and raccoons. —Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026

Speaking of critters, animals such as raccoons and rats may find their way out of the cold and into homes through plumbing stacks and other gaps, said Shaun Crawford, owner of The Critter Guys, based in Delray Beach. —Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026

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"