raccoon

noun

rac·​coon ra-ˈkün How to pronounce raccoon (audio)
 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

Illustration of raccoon
  • raccoon 1a

Examples of raccoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Harford County Health Department issued two rabies alerts this week— one on Tuesday for a raccoon that tested positive in the Forest Hill area, and another on Wednesday for a positive raccoon in Joppa. Brennan Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025 Common raccoons, for instance, are cataloged as nocturnal in the scientific literature, but hundreds of observations from around the Americas showed instances of raccoon activity in the day, night, and twilight. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2025 Kansas lawmakers are considering a proposal to allow people in the state who obtain raccoon ownership permits to keep them as pets. Brittney Melton, NPR, 20 Feb. 2025 One of several constrictors known to exist in the ‘glades, the python has decimated native species including rabbits, raccoons, opossums, and birds. Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for raccoon

Word History

Etymology

Virginia Algonquian raugroughcun, arocoun

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of raccoon was in 1608

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Cite this Entry

“Raccoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raccoon. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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"

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