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

Baby spider monkey and 2 rattlesnakes discovered during California meth bust Detectives from the First Precinct ended up obtaining a search warrant and were able to locate the .22 caliber gun allegedly used in the shooting in a shed on Trinh's property. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 May 2025

The cave also isn't a simple walk in a park, as the conservancy also describes potential hazards such as poison oak, falling rocks, and even rattlesnakes and bees. —Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2025

Subsequent analysis of the venom trove revealed that the islands with more competition and space were home to more specialized rattlesnake toxins. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Apr. 2025

Unfortunately for him, this also includes rattlesnakes, who aren't necessarily known for being so warm and welcoming. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 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