Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

ichneumon

play
noun ich·neu·mon \ik-ˈnü-mən, -ˈnyü-\

Definition of ichneumon

  1. 1 :  a mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) of Africa, southern Europe, and southwestern Asia

  2. 2 :  ichneumon wasp

Explore Merriam-Webster

image2136071978
Tech-y Terms Are Older Than You Think
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
alt-597a2ef226ea8
Are You Craving 'Ice Tea' or 'Iced Tea'?
alt-597a99e699d07
July 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Origin and Etymology of ichneumon

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek ichneumōn, literally, tracker, from ichneuein to track, from ichnos footprint

Learn More about ichneumon

  1. See words that rhyme with ichneumon Nglish: Translation of ichneumon for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up ichneumon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

inhere

play

to be a fixed element or attribute

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. implode How does implode differ from explode?

  2. ballistic What makes a missile ballistic?

  3. transgender Trump reverses military policy allowing transgender people to serve

  4. beleaguer 'Being subjected to constant or repeated trouble or harassment'

  5. scaramouch A new White House communications director

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

alt-597a2ef226ea8
Are You Craving 'Ice Tea' or 'Iced Tea'?

When tea is cold and refreshing, is it 'ice tea' or 'iced tea'?

image2136071978
9 Surprising Word Histories of Computer Terms

People have been blogging since the 18th century.

alt-597a00ef4b9d7
'Motif' vs 'Leitmotif'

A pattern emerges.

alt-5978b44edfb13
Our (Almost) Final Word on 'Penultimate'

The ultimate guide to using penultimate.

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

alt-597a99e699d07
July 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Test your knowledge.

Take the quiz
emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz

Think you’re an emoji 👓 expert? Let’s see 🤔

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game