rodent

noun

ro·​dent ˈrō-dᵊnt 

1

: any of an order (Rodentia) of relatively small gnawing mammals (such as a mouse, squirrel, or beaver) that have in both jaws a single pair of incisors with a chisel-shaped edge

2

: a small mammal (such as a rabbit or a shrew) other than a true rodent

rodent adjective

Examples of rodent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Natomas Donuts, located at 2711 Del Paso Road, Suite 130, was given a red placard on April 1 after health inspectors found more than 200 rodent droppings around the facility’s kitchen, including inside an open bucket of cream cheese filling, The Sacramento Bee previously reported. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2025

While rare, the virus can also spread through a rodent's bite or scratch. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025

But be careful not to hit any of the rodents or the rodent dung. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025

The rodent introduces himself as Remy (Patton Oswalt), and an unlikely partnership is born. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from the base of New Latin Rodentia, order name, from neuter plural of Latin rōdent-, rōdens, present participle of rōdere "to gnaw, nibble, eat away," perhaps going back to Indo-European *Hr̥h₃d-, *Hreh₃d-, whence also Hittite ardu- "saw (off)," Sanskrit rádati "(s/he) bites, gnaws, cuts, opens"

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rodent

• rodent ulcer

Kids Definition

rodent

noun

ro·​dent ˈrōd-ᵊnt 

: any of an order of fairly small mammals (as mice, squirrels, or beavers) that have sharp front teeth used for gnawing

rodent adjective

Etymology

derived from Latin rodent-, rodens, a form of rodere "to gnaw" — related to erode

Medical Definition

rodent

noun

ro·​dent ˈrōd-ᵊnt 

: any mammal (as a mouse or rat) of the order Rodentia

rodent adjective