hamster

noun

ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər 

: any of a subfamily (Cricetinae) of small Old World rodents having very large cheek pouches

Examples of hamster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The organization also recommends that the inside of their enclosure be lined with absorbent bedding, as hamsters tend to chew on things to keep their teeth from overgrowing. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024

Can hamsters eat grapes, strawberries or other human foods? —Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024

Prince has cooked food on TikTok, danced on TikTok, brushed her teeth on TikTok, cuddled a hamster on TikTok. —Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024

And as many hamster owners can attest — almost all rodents have burrowing behaviors. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

German, from Old High German hamustro, of Slavic origin; akin to Old Russian choměstorŭ hamster, of Iranian origin; akin to Avestan hamaēstar- oppressor

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hamster

• golden hamster
• Syrian hamster

Kids Definition

hamster

noun

ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər 

: any of various small Old World rodents with a short tail and large cheek pouches

Medical Definition

hamster

noun

ham·​ster ˈham(p)-stər 

: any of numerous Old World rodents (Cricetus or a related genus) having very large cheek pouches and including several used as laboratory animals