rodent

noun

ro·​dent ˈrō-dᵊnt 

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

rodent adjective

Examples of rodent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If warm and dry conditions persist into fall, cool-season pests like rodents, Asian lady beetles, and boxelder bugs may show up later than normal. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Sep. 2026

Antje Lauer, a professor in the biology department at Cal State Bakersfield — who has also studied valley fever and the cocci virus for decades — said the focus shouldn’t be on rodents, but on the rampant construction taking place in Bakersfield. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Many people prefer to live in the ruins of their houses instead of having tents because the tents do not protect them from any kind of rain or any kind of heat, and there are also rodents that spread diseases. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

These farmers plowed over prairie dog habitat and viewed the rodents as competition with cattle for forage. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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"

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rodent

• rodent ulcer

Kids Definition

rodent

noun

ro·​dent ˈrōd-ᵊnt 

: any of an order of fairly small mammals (as mice, squirrels, or beavers) that have sharp front teeth used for gnawing

rodent adjective

Etymology

derived from Latin rodent-, rodens, a form of rodere "to gnaw" — related to erode

Medical Definition

rodent

noun

ro·​dent ˈrōd-ᵊnt 

: any mammal (as a mouse or rat) of the order Rodentia

rodent adjective