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 a Facebook post shared by the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance on Thursday, June 19, zoo staff detailed how their field team had been traveling the week prior and, upon returning to the zoo, discovered that a wild marmot had made its way inside the truck's wheel well. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 1 July 2025

If a marmot or other animal might be hiding in a vehicle, or if there are any questions about wildlife, the Denver Parks and Recreation Department’s wildlife management page offers helpful resources and guidance. —Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 20 June 2025

Bison, elk, bighorn sheep, marmots, beaver and chipmunks are some of Colorado’s most familiar fauna. —Jonathan Shikes, Denver Post, 2 June 2025

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

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