hamster

noun

ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər 

: any of a subfamily (Cricetinae) of small Old World rodents having very large cheek pouches

Examples of hamster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Enter Smores, the hamster that struggling mother Linda (Best Actress nominee Rose Byrne) buys for her sick daughter (Delaney Quinn) out of desperation. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2026

Health advocacy groups such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest have long urged consumers to avoid products containing BHA because some studies have indicated that the chemical causes cancer in rats, mice and hamsters. —CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026

Xiao is also a fan of the Japanese manga and anime series Chiikawa, whose cherubic, hamster-like cartoon character is popular among Chinese. —Chan Ho-Him, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026

Do not accept riding the hamster wheel of mediocrity, because there will reach a point that the journey will become so entirely unfulfilling and exasperatingly predictable, that a portion of the fan base will tune out. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

German, from Old High German hamustro, of Slavic origin; akin to Old Russian choměstorŭ hamster, of Iranian origin; akin to Avestan hamaēstar- oppressor

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hamster

• golden hamster
• Syrian hamster

Kids Definition

hamster

noun

ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər 

: any of various small Old World rodents with a short tail and large cheek pouches

Medical Definition

hamster

noun

ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər 

: any of numerous Old World rodents (Cricetus or a related genus) having very large cheek pouches and including several used as laboratory animals