gray squirrel

noun

: a common light gray to black squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) that is native to eastern North America and has been introduced into Great Britain and South Africa

Examples of gray squirrel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a study published today in the journal Animal Behaviour, researchers at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom explain that wild gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) will often ignore the food in front of them and climb higher to reach a favorite alternative. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026

In October 2025, a TikTok user posted a video of a gray squirrel nibbling on the mouth end of a vape device in Philadelphia. —Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026

While gray squirrels are solitary, flying squirrels may live in colonies of four to five squirrels. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026

The partridge wings were served en papillate, and the gray squirrels were simmered in Madeira. —Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gray squirrel

• deferral
• referral
• epidural
• postdoctoral
• predoctoral
• neral
• sural

Kids Definition

gray squirrel

noun

: a common light gray to black squirrel native to eastern North America and introduced into Europe