porcupine

noun

por·​cu·​pine ˈpȯr-kyə-ˌpīn 

plural porcupines also porcupine

: any of various relatively large slow-moving chiefly herbivorous rodents having sharp erectile spines mingled with the hair and constituting an Old World terrestrial family (Hystricidae) and a New World chiefly arboreal family (Erethizontidae)

Illustration of porcupine

Examples of porcupine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Their diet typically consists of squirrels, beavers, raccoons, coyotes, rabbits, birds, opossums, cattle, deer, pigs, porcupines, elk, or moose. —Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 20 Mar. 2026

The porcupine-like spikes have never been documented in any dinosaur. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026

There is the rescue story of Caliopea, a baby North American porcupine whose mom did not produce any milk and had to be hand raised and Lucius, an opossum, who had been shot in the head with a BB gun and lost his natural protective behaviors. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026

Smaller, more sensitive mammals, like sloths, porcupines will be brought indoors and kept in a heated structure as well. —Dan Peck, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English porke despyne, from Middle French porc espin, from Old Italian porcospino, from Latin porcus pig + spina spine, prickle

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing porcupine

• porcupine fish

Rhymes for porcupine

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine

Kids Definition

porcupine

noun

por·​cu·​pine ˈpȯr-kyə-ˌpīn 

: any of various rather large slow-moving mostly plant-eating rodents with stiff sharp quills among the hairs on the body

Etymology

Middle English porke despyne "porcupine," from early French porc espin, literally, "thorny pig," derived from Latin porcus "pig" and spina "spine, prickle" — related to pork, porpoise, spine see Word History at porpoise

Geographical Definition

Porcupine

geographical name

river 448 miles (721 kilometers) long in northern Yukon and northeastern Alaska flowing north and west into the Yukon River