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

Pull extra plants, dry the foliage, and sprinkle it in other areas to keep away rodents. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2025

However, some of Earth’s earliest rodents that went extinct thousands of years ago, were more likely to have claws and not thumbs, according to Missagia. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Sep. 2025

More rodents brought more restrictions — specifically, a freeze on sales for all food items present — at a Dania Beach bakery that state inspectors already banned from making new food and receiving new food items. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025

Roadrunners hunt on the ground, scooping up insects, small reptiles, rodents and birds, and even some native seeds and fruits. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025

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