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

Better still are the mountain views that surround the lake and the robust collection of wildlife that call this place home, from voles, shrews, and marmots to elk, black bears, and porcupines. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026

At an afterparty at La Marmotte (French for marmot, a stout ground-dwelling squirrel. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2026

The team needs to bank three years of funding — over $200,000 — to ensure marmot research can continue next summer. — Brittany Peterson, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026

Blumstien said one marmot learned how to turn over the trap and nab the bait inside without getting caught, then her kids followed her lead. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 11 Aug. 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