rattlesnake

noun

rat·​tle·​snake ˈra-tᵊl-ˌsnāk How to pronounce rattlesnake (audio)
: any of several American pit vipers (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) that have horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken

Illustration of rattlesnake

Illustration of rattlesnake

Examples of rattlesnake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If you're bitten by a rattlesnake, experts say to keep the wound below the heart and call 911 immediately. Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2025 The pygmy rattlesnake is usually found very near water and occasionally in rocky uplands, pine woods and glades. Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 13 June 2025 Screenshots from a June 19 TikTok video of a dog sitting at the vet with a swollen face after being bit by a rattlesnake. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025 The dogs are all trained not to pull on the leash, to stay in formation and to steer clear of rattlesnakes by sight, sound or scent. Steve Lopez, Mercury News, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rattlesnake

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rattlesnake was in 1624

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rattlesnake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rattlesnake. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

rattlesnake

noun
rat·​tle·​snake ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk How to pronounce rattlesnake (audio)
: any of various poisonous American snakes with a rattle at the end of the tail

Medical Definition

rattlesnake

noun
rat·​tle·​snake ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk How to pronounce rattlesnake (audio)
: any of the American pit vipers that have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when vibrated and that comprise the genera Sistrurus and Crotalus see diamondback rattlesnake, tiger rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!