red squirrel

noun

: a common and widely distributed North American squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) that has reddish upper parts and is smaller than the gray squirrel

Examples of red squirrel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 1871, the now-teenage Roosevelt made his first donation to the AMNH, contributing a bat, 12 mice, a turtle, the skull of a red squirrel and 4 bird eggs. Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Oct. 2024 To the team’s surprise, the medieval squirrel strain bore an even closer relation to medieval human strains gathered from the site of the leprosy hospital than to those taken from modern red squirrels. Bysean Cummings, science.org, 7 Aug. 2024 The Phoenix Zoo's current program for Mount Graham red squirrels, led by Director of Conservation Science Tara Harris, is an example of both. Joan Meiners, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2024 In an attempt to stop this, authorities around the world are protecting coral reefs by killing starfish, protecting salmon by killing sea lions, and protecting red squirrels by killing grey ones. F.d. Flam, The Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for red squirrel 

Word History

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of red squirrel was in 1682

Dictionary Entries Near red squirrel

Cite this Entry

“Red squirrel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20squirrel. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

red squirrel

noun
: a common North American squirrel that has reddish upper parts and is smaller than the gray squirrel

More from Merriam-Webster on red squirrel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!