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

The commissioners have also overseen the heartbreaking and mounting losses of species such as Florida gopher tortoises to development. —Joe Murphy, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026

Protect new plants by planting into gopher baskets. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026

Gopher Mesh Another way to prevent gophers from making a home in your lawn is to use gopher mesh. —David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 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.