marmot

noun

mar·​mot ˈmär-mət 

: any of a genus (Marmota) of stout-bodied short-legged chiefly herbivorous burrowing rodents of the squirrel family that have coarse fur, a short bushy tail, and very small ears and that hibernate during the winter compare woodchuck

Illustration of marmot

Examples of marmot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trout swim in its brilliant turquoise waters, while elk and sunbathing marmots are often seen from the path. — Abigail Bliss, Denver Post, 13 May 2026

Groundhogs are rodents that belong to the marmot or ground squirrel family. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026

In the forests and on the beaches, keep your eyes peeled for native wildlife like Roosevelt elk, marmots, orcas, gray whales, humpbacks, dolphins, sea lions, and bald eagles. — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2026

The plague victims likely hunted, skinned and butchered marmots for their meat and fur, which would have exposed members of the community to the bacteria, Macleod said. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French marmotte

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

marmot

noun

mar·​mot ˈmär-mət 

: any of a genus of burrowing rodents with a stout body, short legs, coarse fur, a short bushy tail, and very small ears compare woodchuck

Medical Definition

marmot

noun

mar·​mot ˈmär-mət 

: any of various stout-bodied short-legged burrowing rodents (genus Marmota) with coarse fur, a short bushy tail, and very small ears that are important reservoirs of sylvatic plague