ground squirrel

noun

: any of various burrowing North American and Eurasian rodents (especially genus Spermophilus) of the squirrel family that often live in colonies especially in open areas (such as grasslands)

called also spermophile

Examples of ground squirrel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are a few possibilities for non-gopher holes, including the Norway rat, voles, moles, rabbits, ground squirrels and snakes, which don’t dig their own underground burrows but take over old tunnels and improve upon them. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 18 May 2026

Canada lynxes, grizzly bears, North American wolverines and Northern Idaho ground squirrels also have threatened status under federal law. —Idaho Statesman, 22 Apr. 2026

These are specialized cartridges intended for shooting small, non-game animals that are essentially pests, including prairie dogs, ground squirrels, coyotes, foxes and rabbits, that are either a threat to agriculture or wildlife management, or are potentially dangerous. —David Szondy april 19, New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2026

Groundhogs are rodents that belong to the marmot or ground squirrel family. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ground squirrel

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

Kids Definition

ground squirrel

noun

: any of numerous burrowing rodents (as gophers and chipmunks) that differ from true squirrels in having cheek pouches and shorter fur