gopher

1 of 2

noun (1)

go·​pher ˈgō-fər 

1

: a burrowing land tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) of the southern U.S.

broadly : any of several related land tortoises

called also gopher tortoise

2

a

: any of a family (Geomyidae) of burrowing rodents of western North America, Central America, and the southern U.S. that are the size of a large rat and have large cheek pouches opening beside the mouth

called also pocket gopher

b

: any of several small ground squirrels (genus Spermophilus) of the prairie region of North America

3

: gopher ball

Illustration of gopher

• gopher 2a

gopher

2 of 2

noun (2)

go·​pher

less common spelling of gofer

informal

: an employee whose duties include running errands : lackey

Examples of gopher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Their brother, Bill, steals the film as an unstable groundskeeper who is tasked with killing an errant gopher. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026

Keep your eyes peeled for bobcats, foxes, gopher tortoises, pileated woodpeckers, and bald eagles. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 July 2026

The many crisscrossing burrows made by a gopher form an elaborate underground network, and, in fact, the word gopher comes from the French gaufre, which means honeycomb. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 22 May 2026

Additionally, daffodils deter deer, rabbits, voles, and gophers, protecting fruit trees from potential damage. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 7 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gopher

• gopher ball
• gopher snake
• pocket gopher

Rhymes for gopher

• loafer

Kids Definition

gopher

noun

go·​pher

ˈgō-fər

1

: a burrowing land tortoise of the southern U.S.

2

a

: any of several burrowing American rodents with large cheek pouches

called also pocket gopher

b

: a small striped ground squirrel of the prairie region of the U.S.