rattlesnake

noun

rat·​tle·​snake ˈra-tᵊl-ˌsnāk 

: any of several American pit vipers (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) that have horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken

Illustration of rattlesnake

Examples of rattlesnake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For Putman, who used to study rattlesnakes, fence lizards are a model for how animals handle rapidly changing environments. —Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Among the weird things people left behind were a full sheet of uncut $2 bills, a toilet seat, silicone butt pads, a rattlesnake preserved in a jar of whiskey and an antique French guide to performing exorcisms. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025

Mojave Rattlesnake Among the rattlesnakes of the Southwest, the Mojave rattlesnake, or Crotalus scutulatus, stands apart for more than its pale greenish hue. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Rabbits dance and rattlesnakes slither in the hazy undergrowth with the same rickety gestures as the towering creatures above, providing each new environment a comforting, organic feel. —Sarah Thwaites, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rattlesnake

• diamondback rattlesnake
• rattlesnake master
• rattlesnake plantain
• rattlesnake root
• rattlesnake weed
• timber rattlesnake

Rhymes for rattlesnake

• overtake
• shiitake
• undertake
• wapentake
• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake

Kids Definition

rattlesnake

noun

rat·​tle·​snake ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk 

: any of various poisonous American snakes with a rattle at the end of the tail

Medical Definition

rattlesnake

noun

rat·​tle·​snake ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk 

: any of the American pit vipers that have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when vibrated and that comprise the genera Sistrurus and Crotalus see diamondback rattlesnake, tiger rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake