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- copperhead 1
copperhead
noun
cop·per·head
ˈkä-pər-ˌhed 
plural copperheads
1
: a common pit viper (Agkistrodon contortrix) of the eastern and central U.S. usually having a copper-colored head and often a reddish-brown hourglass pattern on the body
2
disapproving
: a person in the northern states who sympathized with the South during the American Civil War
Examples of copperhead in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the same time, tenants at the Dane Park Apartments in Grapevine reported seeing southern copperheads around the complex, where management includes snake‑safety tip sheets in welcome packets to raise awareness.
—
Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 16 May 2026
The copperhead is the most common venomous snake in North Carolina, and in highly populated areas is generally the only one, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
Kleinman said the exact number of copperheads in Connecticut is not known, as population counts are difficult to track, but that their population is declining due to habitat loss and development.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
The copperhead snake is the most common and prevalent venomous snake in the state, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's website.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
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Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 16 May 2026
The copperhead is the most common venomous snake in North Carolina, and in highly populated areas is generally the only one, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
Kleinman said the exact number of copperheads in Connecticut is not known, as population counts are difficult to track, but that their population is declining due to habitat loss and development.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
The copperhead snake is the most common and prevalent venomous snake in the state, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's website.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for copperhead
Cite this Entry
“Copperhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copperhead. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
copperhead
noun
cop·per·head
ˈkäp-ər-ˌhed
1
: a common largely coppery brown poisonous snake of the pit viper family that occurs in the eastern and central U.S.
2
: a person in the northern states who sympathized with the South during the American Civil War
Medical Definition
copperhead
noun
cop·per·head
ˈkäp-ər-ˌhed
1
: a pit viper (Agkistrodon contortrix) widely distributed in upland areas of the eastern and central United States that typically attains a length of three feet (0.9 meter), is coppery brown above with dark transverse blotches, and is capable of inflicting a very painful but rarely fatal bite
2
: a very venomous but sluggish Australian elapid snake (Austrelaps superbus)
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