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

Fourteen states named a snake species as their most dangerous animal, from rattlesnakes in the West to copperheads and cottonmouths across the South. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Southern Pacific rattlesnakes pose the biggest threat in California, while Arizona's deadliest species is the western diamondback rattlesnake. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Make sure to sample the rattlesnake and rabbit sausage here, too. — Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2026

These shady sites are great nap spots for rattlesnakes, which are common to the area. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

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