rodent

noun

ro·dent | \ ˈrō-dᵊnt

Definition of rodent

1 : any of an order (Rodentia) of relatively small gnawing mammals (such as a mouse, squirrel, or beaver) that have in both jaws a single pair of incisors with a chisel-shaped edge

2 : a small mammal (such as a rabbit or a shrew) other than a true rodent

Other Words from rodent Example Sentences Learn More about rodent

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of rodent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This rubber trim prevents rodents (and bugs!) from sliding beneath your door. — Blair Donovan, Country Living, "How to Get Rid of Mice: The Ultimate Guide to a Rodent-Free Home," 28 Mar. 2019 King said Keller Canyon used the Hunters Point soil as a cover layer over garbage — meant to keep rodents and pests out and odors in. — Kimberly Veklerov, SFChronicle.com, "Pittsburg residents fear city dump tainted with radioactive waste from SF shipyard," 22 June 2018 The grossest health inspection reports of the last year Some restaurants had evidence of contamination from insects, rodents or other animals. — Dana Burke, Houston Chronicle, "Galveston restaurants with poor health inspection scores," 26 Feb. 2018 For a low-level, very new rodent problem, Carrillo says trapping is the most tried-and-true method. — Blair Donovan, Country Living, "How to Get Rid of Mice: The Ultimate Guide to a Rodent-Free Home," 28 Mar. 2019 On Groundhog's Day, the fortune-telling rodent predicted an early spring, but winter certainly doesn't seem to be winding down, according to this week's harsh forecast. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "Brace Yourselves: The Entire Country Will be Hit by a Brutal Winter Storm This Week," 12 Feb. 2019 The Norway rat, a common pest in the U.S. Photo: iStock City council members dashed to pass a motion Friday to explore ways of removing the rodents from the seat of government of America’s second largest city. — Ian Lovett, WSJ, "Politics Is a Dirty Business—Starting with the Rats at Los Angeles City Hall," 10 Feb. 2019 The closure came after a state health inspector noted rodent droppings under seats in a dining area near the bar during a July 3 visit. — Kyle Arnold, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Bahama Breeze reopens after rodent problems in Altamonte Springs," 9 July 2018 Tests of rodent droppings near her home were negative, USA Today reported. — Sarah Klein, Health.com, "This Woman Died From Hantavirus—a Rare Infection Initially Mistaken for the Flu," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rodent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for rodent

borrowed from the base of New Latin Rodentia, order name, from neuter plural of Latin rōdent-, rōdens, present participle of rōdere "to gnaw, nibble, eat away," perhaps going back to Indo-European *Hr̥h₃d-, *Hreh₃d-, whence also Hittite ardu- "saw (off)," Sanskrit rádati "(s/he) bites, gnaws, cuts, opens"