raccoon

noun

rac·​coon ra-ˈkün 

 also  rə-

variants or less commonly racoon

plural raccoon or raccoons also racoon or racoons

1

a

: a small nocturnal carnivore (Procyon lotor) of North America that is chiefly gray, has a black mask and bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees, and has a varied diet including small animals, fruits, and nuts

b

: the pelt of this animal

2

: any of several animals resembling or related to the raccoon

Illustration of raccoon

• raccoon 1a

Examples of raccoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The center has also seen the effects of littering — helping raccoons with a can on its arm and a fox with a bottle on its head. —Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2025

Bats are the most common host, along with skunks, raccoons, and foxes. —Owen Clarke, Outside, 14 Aug. 2025

Flea bites could be the result of pets, stray dogs and cats or wildlife such as raccoons or coyotes hanging around your home. —Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Wildlife killed include moose, deer, black bears, elk, mountain lions, raccoons, hawks, coyotes, porcupines, red foxes, bobcats, owls, rabbits, Canadian geese, beavers and badgers. —Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Virginia Algonquian raugroughcun, arocoun

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing raccoon

• raccoon dog

Rhymes for raccoon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn

Kids Definition

raccoon

noun

rac·​coon

variants also racoon

ra-ˈkün

plural raccoon or raccoons also racoon or racoons

: a small North American mammal that is mostly gray with a black mask, has a bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees and is active at night, and eats a varied diet including small animals, fruits, eggs, and insects

also : the pelt of a raccoon

Etymology

Virginia Algonquian raugroughcoon, arocoun "racoon"