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 California Department of Public Health routinely monitors rodent populations for plague activity and has identified four positive rodent infections in the Tahoe Basin this year. —Nadia Kounang, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025

Health officials in El Dorado County said plague bacteria are often transmitted by bites from fleas that came in contact with infected squirrels, chipmunks or other wild rodents. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado updated August 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Do not camp, sleep or rest near animal burrows or areas where dead rodents are observed. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025

Plague bacteria are typically transmitted via flea bites, when the fleas have acquired the bacteria from infected squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 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