deer mouse

noun

: any of various mice (genus Peromyscus) of North and Central America
especially : one (P. maniculatus) widely distributed in forests and grasslands of North America

Examples of deer mouse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It is primarily found in deer mice. Eva Flowe may 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026 The disease is most frequently reported in the western United States, and particularly the Southwest, where deer mice are common. Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 May 2026 The most common hantavirus in the United States is spread by the deer mouse. Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 4 May 2026 Hantavirus is an infectious disease that is normally spread through contact with rodents such as deer mice, cotton rats, rice rats and the white-footed mouse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026 Supporting characters like Fiona, a flying squirrel, and Dash, a deer mouse, round out the cast. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026 How to avoid it: The virus is spread by contact with rodents (in the U.S., specifically deer mice) or their urine or droppings. Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2025 Those raiding the almond orchards also include squirrels, deer mice and others, though rats have been by far the most destructive. Jorge L. Ortiz, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025 Left, a generic image shows a deer mouse, and, right, a view of the Grand Canyon. Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

from its agility

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deer mouse was in 1833

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deer mouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deer%20mouse. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

deer mouse

noun
: any of numerous North American mice of fields and woodlands

More from Merriam-Webster on deer mouse

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster