prairie dog

noun

: any of a genus (Cynomys) of gregarious burrowing rodents of the squirrel family chiefly of central and western U.S. plains

especially : a black-tailed rodent (C. ludovicianus) that usually lives in extensive colonial burrows

Illustration of prairie dog

Examples of prairie dog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

America’s 26th president also inspired the region’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which safeguards his modest log cabin and a pristine slice of the northern mixed grass prairie and many of the species Roosevelt would have encountered, including bison, prairie dogs and wild horses. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026

The North American prairie is an ecological marvel, home to some of the nation’s most iconic creatures — bison, elk, wolves, pronghorn, prairie dogs and bald eagles. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026

Your eyes may see the prairie dogs digging and scurrying. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026

These are specialized cartridges intended for shooting small, non-game animals that are essentially pests, including prairie dogs, ground squirrels, coyotes, foxes and rabbits, that are either a threat to agriculture or wildlife management, or are potentially dangerous. —David Szondy april 19, New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prairie dog

• analog
• analogue
• catalogue
• decalogue
• demagogue
• dialogue
• epilogue
• homologue
• monologue
• pedagogue
• synagogue
• tagalog

Kids Definition

prairie dog

noun

: a black-tailed buff or grayish rodent of central and western U.S. prairies that is related to the squirrels and usually lives in colonies with many burrows