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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The staccato comedy of a Pallas’s cat—truly nature’s chonkiest fuzzball—as it plods after a rodent. 
WIRED, 18 Sep. 2022 The damage to your tomatoes is consistent with rodent damage. oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2022 Dear White Staffers said he was tipped off to the rat trouble in mid-August by staffers at the center who sent him photos of a dead rat in a classroom, rodent droppings and traps in the center. Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Before the discovery about the Brasilodon's age, scientists had previously confirmed that the Morganucodon, another small, rodent-like creature, was the world's earliest mammal. Wyatte Grantham-philips, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2022 The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse is a 2020 cartoon with old-fashioned flair that reinvigorates the iconic rodent by bringing him back to his roots. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Those violations included flying insects, a pesticide in the food area, rodent activity and a stop sale on a gallon of jerk sauce. Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2022 The facility had been a hotbed of rodent activity for six months in 2021— all while items were being sent to stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee. Nedra Rhone, ajc, 9 Mar. 2022 Those violations included flying insects and rodent activity. Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2022 See More
WIRED, 18 Sep. 2022 The damage to your tomatoes is consistent with rodent damage. oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2022 Dear White Staffers said he was tipped off to the rat trouble in mid-August by staffers at the center who sent him photos of a dead rat in a classroom, rodent droppings and traps in the center. Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Before the discovery about the Brasilodon's age, scientists had previously confirmed that the Morganucodon, another small, rodent-like creature, was the world's earliest mammal. Wyatte Grantham-philips, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2022 The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse is a 2020 cartoon with old-fashioned flair that reinvigorates the iconic rodent by bringing him back to his roots. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Those violations included flying insects, a pesticide in the food area, rodent activity and a stop sale on a gallon of jerk sauce. Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2022 The facility had been a hotbed of rodent activity for six months in 2021— all while items were being sent to stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee. Nedra Rhone, ajc, 9 Mar. 2022 Those violations included flying insects and rodent activity. Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
rodent
noun
ro·dent ˈrō-dᵊnt
: a usually small mammal (as a squirrel, rat, mouse, or beaver) with sharp front teeth used in gnawing
Medical Definition
rodent
noun
ro·dent ˈrōd-ᵊnt
: any mammal (as a mouse or rat) of the order Rodentia