rodent

noun

ro·​dent ˈrō-dᵊnt 

1

: any of an order (Rodentia) of relatively small gnawing mammals (such as a mouse, squirrel, or beaver) that have in both jaws a single pair of incisors with a chisel-shaped edge

2

: a small mammal (such as a rabbit or a shrew) other than a true rodent

rodent adjective

Examples of rodent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The use of chemicals is one of the city’s methods for rodent control. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025

The typical diet of a sharp-shinned hawk is 90 percent small song birds, but the rest includes small rodents. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2025

Groundhogs are large rodents, weighing up to about 14 pounds and measuring up to 2 feet long. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2025

While many homeowners are busy with back-to-school routines, seasonal cleaning, and the return of structured schedules, rodents and other pests are also preparing to move indoors. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 29 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from the base of New Latin Rodentia, order name, from neuter plural of Latin rōdent-, rōdens, present participle of rōdere "to gnaw, nibble, eat away," perhaps going back to Indo-European *Hr̥h₃d-, *Hreh₃d-, whence also Hittite ardu- "saw (off)," Sanskrit rádati "(s/he) bites, gnaws, cuts, opens"

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rodent

• rodent ulcer

Kids Definition

rodent

noun

ro·​dent ˈrōd-ᵊnt 

: any of an order of fairly small mammals (as mice, squirrels, or beavers) that have sharp front teeth used for gnawing

rodent adjective

Etymology

derived from Latin rodent-, rodens, a form of rodere "to gnaw" — related to erode

Medical Definition

rodent

noun

ro·​dent ˈrōd-ᵊnt 

: any mammal (as a mouse or rat) of the order Rodentia

rodent adjective