Illustration of marmot
: 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
Examples of marmot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Keep your eyes peeled for marmots and the occasional eagle.
—
By
sunset, Sunset Magazine, 21 Sep. 2023
Within a few years, a handful of cornerstone species, including marmots, red and fallow deer, wild hamsters, and koniks—ponies thought to be distant descendants of the now extinct European wild horse—were once again roaming the countryside.
—Johanna Chisholm, WIRED, 23 July 2023
Because of mini bears—the mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits, marmots, pikas, raccoons, porcupines, gray jays, and other small animals that reside in popular front-country and backcountry campsites.
—Andrew Skurka, Outside Online, 26 Jan. 2019
However, State Farm spokesperson Dave Phillips noted that many of the drivers never make contact with said rodent: The vast majority of those accidents occur when motorists swerve to avoid a suicidal squirrel or moseying marmot.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023
Washington Washington has both a state endemic mammal, the Olympic marmot (mammals only found in one location), and a state marine mammal, the orca.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2023
The Greeks and Romans—purportedly including Alexander the Great—were enthralled by Herodotus’ tales of giant gold-digging ants in the mountains; scholars today assume that the traveller and historian was referring to the Himalayan marmot, a nervous, furry mammal that wanders the lower altitudes.
—Akash Kapur, The New Yorker, 18 Jan. 2021
The researchers sequenced the genome of a male Himalayan marmot.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2018
Another Rocky Mountain resident, the yellow-bellied marmot can be seen lounging in the sun on rocks or roaming about the alpine meadows.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 10 May 2022
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By
sunset, Sunset Magazine, 21 Sep. 2023
Within a few years, a handful of cornerstone species, including marmots, red and fallow deer, wild hamsters, and koniks—ponies thought to be distant descendants of the now extinct European wild horse—were once again roaming the countryside.
—Johanna Chisholm, WIRED, 23 July 2023
Because of mini bears—the mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits, marmots, pikas, raccoons, porcupines, gray jays, and other small animals that reside in popular front-country and backcountry campsites.
—Andrew Skurka, Outside Online, 26 Jan. 2019
However, State Farm spokesperson Dave Phillips noted that many of the drivers never make contact with said rodent: The vast majority of those accidents occur when motorists swerve to avoid a suicidal squirrel or moseying marmot.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023
Washington Washington has both a state endemic mammal, the Olympic marmot (mammals only found in one location), and a state marine mammal, the orca.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2023
The Greeks and Romans—purportedly including Alexander the Great—were enthralled by Herodotus’ tales of giant gold-digging ants in the mountains; scholars today assume that the traveller and historian was referring to the Himalayan marmot, a nervous, furry mammal that wanders the lower altitudes.
—Akash Kapur, The New Yorker, 18 Jan. 2021
The researchers sequenced the genome of a male Himalayan marmot.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2018
Another Rocky Mountain resident, the yellow-bellied marmot can be seen lounging in the sun on rocks or roaming about the alpine meadows.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 10 May 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'marmot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French marmotte
First Known Use
1607, in the meaning defined above
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Dictionary Entries Near marmot
Cite this Entry
“Marmot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marmot. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
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
More from Merriam-Webster on marmot
Nglish: Translation of marmot for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about marmot
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