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 rodents got into a kitchen oven and left 50 rodent droppings. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026

Biohaven said that the findings may be specific to rodents and not relevant to human safety and that the drug has generally been safe and well-tolerated in clinical studies with more than 1,200 participants dosed to date. — Michelle Fox,darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

As its common name suggests, the giant huntsman spider actively hunts its prey, and its diet includes insects as well as small rodents and reptiles. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Sep. 2026

Although no plant is 100% animal-proof, some spring-blooming bulbs have toxic or unpalatable self-defenses that deer, rabbits and rodents tend to avoid. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

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