Illustration of rattlesnake
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
Examples of rattlesnake in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is our record for the most rattlesnakes caught in one call!
—
CBS News, 15 Sep. 2023
Expect to share the path, rough and rocky at times, with trail runners and the occasional reptile from rattlesnakes to gila monsters.
—Jeff Ficker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2023
To measure how snakes respond to stress, the researchers attached heart rate monitors to 25 adult southern Pacific rattlesnakes caught in the wild in Southern California.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 July 2023
Homeowner Christie Jones said her 12-year-old daughter Kyler had walked out of the front door just 20 minutes before the prairie rattlesnake was seen lurking in the same area.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 21 Aug. 2023
The team found that when the rattlesnakes were exposed to stress, the presence of a snake companion significantly changed the heartbeat of both snakes.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 July 2023
The series of holdups and assaults increases an already dangerous journey for migrants who often face some combination of extreme heat or bitter cold, a lack of food and water, rugged mountain terrain, rattlesnakes, cacti and other dangers.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2023
As their various names suggest, the worms thrash and snap their bodies intensely like a rattlesnake when touched or held, can spring into the air and even shed their tail to escape, PBS Wisconsin reports.
—Doc Louallen, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2023
With only 2 miles to my next water source, I was rattled by a rattlesnake in the middle of a field of tall desert grasses.
—Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 30 Aug. 2023
See More
CBS News, 15 Sep. 2023
Expect to share the path, rough and rocky at times, with trail runners and the occasional reptile from rattlesnakes to gila monsters.
—Jeff Ficker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2023
To measure how snakes respond to stress, the researchers attached heart rate monitors to 25 adult southern Pacific rattlesnakes caught in the wild in Southern California.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 July 2023
Homeowner Christie Jones said her 12-year-old daughter Kyler had walked out of the front door just 20 minutes before the prairie rattlesnake was seen lurking in the same area.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 21 Aug. 2023
The team found that when the rattlesnakes were exposed to stress, the presence of a snake companion significantly changed the heartbeat of both snakes.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 July 2023
The series of holdups and assaults increases an already dangerous journey for migrants who often face some combination of extreme heat or bitter cold, a lack of food and water, rugged mountain terrain, rattlesnakes, cacti and other dangers.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2023
As their various names suggest, the worms thrash and snap their bodies intensely like a rattlesnake when touched or held, can spring into the air and even shed their tail to escape, PBS Wisconsin reports.
—Doc Louallen, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2023
With only 2 miles to my next water source, I was rattled by a rattlesnake in the middle of a field of tall desert grasses.
—Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 30 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rattlesnake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1624, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing rattlesnake
Dictionary Entries Near rattlesnake
Cite this Entry
“Rattlesnake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rattlesnake. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
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
More from Merriam-Webster on rattlesnake
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rattlesnake
Nglish: Translation of rattlesnake for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rattlesnake
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share