marmot

noun

mar·​mot ˈmär-mət 

: any of a genus (Marmota) of stout-bodied short-legged chiefly herbivorous burrowing rodents of the squirrel family that have coarse fur, a short bushy tail, and very small ears and that hibernate during the winter compare woodchuck

Illustration of marmot

Examples of marmot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the forests and on the beaches, keep your eyes peeled for native wildlife like Roosevelt elk, marmots, orcas, gray whales, humpbacks, dolphins, sea lions, and bald eagles. —Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2025

But suppressing your emotions can be like trying to hide a marmot in your pants. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

In some cases, selection favored marmots with fewer social relationships while favoring marmots living in more social and connected groups. —Conner Philson, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025

Keep an eye out for pikas and marmots along the way. —Graham Averill, Outside Online, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French marmotte

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

marmot

noun

mar·​mot ˈmär-mət 

: any of a genus of burrowing rodents with a stout body, short legs, coarse fur, a short bushy tail, and very small ears compare woodchuck

Medical Definition

marmot

noun

mar·​mot ˈmär-mət 

: any of various stout-bodied short-legged burrowing rodents (genus Marmota) with coarse fur, a short bushy tail, and very small ears that are important reservoirs of sylvatic plague