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

Tubing mascara Avoid the raccoon look once the weather heats up by swapping in a tubing mascara that won't smudge or cause dark under-eyes. —Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026

In the Austin-area crash, the Waymo was traveling northwest on a highway in January when a raccoon ran into the roadway from the left side and entered the Waymo’s lane of travel. —Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026

Amaze your kids by showing them what giants used to call Fremont home, long before boring-by-comparison coyotes and raccoons. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026

That’s a sure way to invite not only raccoons but other unwanted guests such as mice, opossums, and skunks. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026

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"