rat

1 of 2

noun

ˈrat 

1

a

: any of numerous rodents (Rattus and related genera) differing from the related mice especially by considerably larger size

b

: any of various similar rodents

2

: a contemptible person: such as

a

: one who betrays or deserts friends or associates

b

: scab sense 3b

c

: informer sense 2

3

: a pad over which a woman's hair is arranged

4

: a person who spends much time in a specified place

a mall rat

ratlike

ˈrat-ˌlīk 

adjective

rat

2 of 2

verb

ratted; ratting

intransitive verb

1

: to betray, desert, or inform on one's associates

—usually used with on

2

: to catch or hunt rats

3

: to work as a scab

transitive verb

1

: to give (hair) the effect of greater quantity (as by use of a rat)

2

: to inform on : turn in

—usually used with out

ratted out his accomplice

Synonyms

Noun

• betrayer
• canary [slang]
• deep throat
• fink
• informant
• informer
• nark [British]
• rat fink
• snitch
• snitcher
• squealer
• stool pigeon
• stoolie
• talebearer
• tattler
• tattletale
• telltale
• whistle-blower

Verb

• fink
• grass (on) [British slang]
• inform
• sing
• snitch
• split (on) [British]
• squeak
• squeal
• talk
• tell (on)

Examples of rat in a Sentence

Noun

a dirty old building infested by rats and mice

I can't believe that rat turned us in to the police!

No one understands why she's with a rat like him.

Every night he goes to work out with the other gym rats.

Verb

The teacher knows what we did, which means that somebody ratted.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The bacteria from infected rat urine can thrive in warm and moist environments for weeks. —Syeda Khaula Saad, Verywell Health, 24 Apr. 2024

This time, the species of choice was the laboratory rat. —Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy Gabra Zackman Emma Kehlbeck Lance Neal, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024

The bites of infected fleas and rats spread plague. —Claire Gillespie, Health, 22 Apr. 2024

In December, Mayor Eric Adams said rat infestation was partly responsible for many New Yorkers leaving the city. —Louis Casiano, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2024

The boys were okay-ish with rats, but not the ladies. —Leena Tailor, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024

In New York City, the idea to distribute rat contraceptives got fresh attention in city government Thursday following the death of an escaped zoo owl, known as Flaco, who was found dead with rat poison in his system. —Maysoon Khan, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024

The bait contains active compounds that target ovarian function in female rats and lead to infertility in male rats by disrupting sperm cell production. —Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024

They are also often derided as pests and called rats with wings. —Cathy Free, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English rat, ratte, going back to Old English ræt (attested once), akin to Old Saxon ratta "rat," Middle Dutch ratte, rotte, Old High German ratta, radda, ratza (feminine weak nouns), also Old High German rato (masculine weak noun), probably going back to an ablauting paradigm *raþō (nominative), *rattaz/*ruttaz (genitive), *radeni/*rudeni (dative), going back to earlier *(H)rót-ōn, *(H)rt-n-ós, *(H)rt-én-i, of uncertain origin

Note: The origin of the etymon beyond Germanic is obscure. Regionally in German Ratz or Ratze are applied to other animals (as the dormouse and the polecat); if these senses are old, the application of the etymon to rats (Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus) may be secondary. Note that if the base is pre-Germanic *rat-, there is no connection to either Latin rōdere "gnaw, nibble, eat away" (see rodent) or rādere "scrape, shave" (see rase), as has often been assumed.

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing rat

• black rat snake
• brown rat
• eastern rat snake
• gray rat snake
• kangaroo rat
• lab/laboratory rat
• like a drowned rat
• mole rat
• naked mole rat
• Norway rat
• pack rat
• rat-arsed
• rat-a-tat
• rat-a-tat-tat
• rat-bite fever
• rat cheese
• rat fink
• rat race
• rat run
• rat snake
• rat-tail file
• rat trap cheese
• red rat snake
• rug rat
• smell a rat
• the rat race
• water rat
• western rat snake
• wood rat

Kids Definition

rat

1 of 2 noun

ˈrat 

1

: any of various rodents that have brown, black, white, or grayish fur and a long usually nearly hairless tail and that look like but are larger than the related mice

2

: a person who betrays friends

3

: a person who spends much time in a specified place

a mall rat

ratlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

rat

2 of 2 verb

ratted; ratting

1

: to betray, desert, or inform on one's friends

didn't rat on us

ratted them out

2

: to catch or hunt rats

Medical Definition

rat

noun

ˈrat 

: any of the numerous rodents (family Muridae) of Rattus and related genera that differ from the murid mice by their usually considerably larger size and by features of the teeth and other structures and that include forms (as the brown rat, the black rat, and the roof rat) which live in and about human habitations and in ships, have become naturalized by commerce in most parts of the world, and are destructive pests consuming or destroying vast quantities of food and other goods and acting as vectors of various diseases (as bubonic plague)