raccoon

noun

rac·​coon ra-ˈkün 

 also  rə-

variants or less commonly racoon

plural raccoon or raccoons also racoon or racoons

1

a

: a small nocturnal carnivore (Procyon lotor) of North America that is chiefly gray, has a black mask and bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees, and has a varied diet including small animals, fruits, and nuts

b

: the pelt of this animal

2

: any of several animals resembling or related to the raccoon

Illustration of raccoon

• raccoon 1a

Examples of raccoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Marvel's more impressive big swing was getting audiences to fall in love with a talking raccoon, a tree and their motley crew of space misfits. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 June 2025

But dogs on bear hunts may kill raccoons and foxes and disturb other wildlife, argued Adam Sugalski, executive director of One Protest and its Bear Defenders campaign. —Zoey Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025

Birds, turtles, squirrels, rabbits, pelicans, raccoons, coyotes, opossums, snakes and bats are among the 350 different species that receive care. —Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 17 June 2025

The raccoon subsequently bit a patron inside the business, police said. —Nick Butler, FOXNews.com, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Virginia Algonquian raugroughcun, arocoun

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing raccoon

• raccoon dog

Rhymes for raccoon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn

Kids Definition

raccoon

noun

rac·​coon

variants also racoon

ra-ˈkün

plural raccoon or raccoons also racoon or racoons

: a small North American mammal that is mostly gray with a black mask, has a bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees and is active at night, and eats a varied diet including small animals, fruits, eggs, and insects

also : the pelt of a raccoon

Etymology

Virginia Algonquian raugroughcoon, arocoun "racoon"