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

When threatened, gopher snakes often flatten their heads and hiss loudly, mimicking rattlesnakes to deter predators. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Fans can get up close to the rams, dinosaur and rattlesnake and majestic as well as two new sculptures that will go to Borrego Springs in November. —Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025

These are one of four venomous snakes found in Texas alongside rattlesnakes, cottonmouths (also known as water moccasins) and coral snakes. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025

Pygmy rattlesnakes are found near water and sometimes in rocky uplands, pine woods and glades, according to the TWRA. —Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 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