black-footed ferret

noun

: a rare weasel (Mustela nigripes) of western North American prairies having a yellowish coat, dark feet and facial mask, and a dark-tipped tail

Illustration of black-footed ferret

Examples of black-footed ferret in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While target species span from the Cuban crocodile to polar bear, the zoo is perhaps best known for its ultra-successful black-footed ferret breeding program, with more than 1,000 kits bred at the Louisville Zoo Conservation Center since its launch in 1991. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

For decades, the ESA has been the primary legislative tool for halting extinction, credited with preventing the loss of species ranging from bald eagles to black-footed ferrets. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

That there are any black-footed ferrets at all is something of a miracle. —Benji Jones, Vox, 26 Feb. 2025

The nonprofit is working on reviving populations of the black-footed ferret and passenger pigeon, among other animals. —Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for black-footed ferret

• buret
• carat
• garret
• karat
• merit
• parrot
• demerit
• inherit
• preterit
• disinherit

Kids Definition

black-footed ferret

noun

black-foot·​ed ferret

ˈblak-ˌfu̇t-əd-

: an endangered weasel of western North American prairies having a yellowish coat, black feet and face markings, and a black-tipped tail