pit viper

noun

: any of various mostly New World vipers (subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae) with a sensory pit on each side of the head and hollow perforated retractable fangs

Examples of pit viper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers have discovered multiple rare and new species in previously unexplored caves in Cambodia, including a flying snake and a florescent-turquoise pit viper. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026

The report, published Monday, documents the discovery of several species including two micro-snails, two millipedes, the turquoise pit viper, a flying snake, and several geckos. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026

Deep inside Cambodia’s limestone caves, researchers have uncovered creatures never before known to science — including a turquoise pit viper, a flying snake, several geckos, two micro-snails and two millipedes. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026

Sssensational finds Researchers in Cambodia have uncovered a range of species that are new to science, including a pit viper and a flying snake. —Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pit viper

• sandpiper
• diaper
• hyper
• piper
• riper
• sniper
• wiper

Kids Definition

pit viper

noun

: any of various mostly New World poisonous snakes that have a small pit on each side of the head and hollow fangs with holes in them

Medical Definition

pit viper

noun

: any of various mostly New World highly specialized venomous snakes (as the rattlesnake, copperhead, water moccasin, and fer-de-lance) that belong to a subfamily (Crotalinae) of the family Viperidae, that have a small depression on each side of the head between the eye and the nostril, and that have hollow perforated fangs usually folded back in the upper part of the mouth but erected in striking