What does rodent mean?
A rodent is a gnawing mammal belonging to the order Rodentia, the largest group of mammals. Familiar examples include mice, rats, squirrels, hamsters, voles, porcupines, and beavers. Rodents characteristically have a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each jaw, which they wear down through gnawing. Because many species live close to people and consume stored food or damage buildings, the word often appears in practical contexts such as rodent control, infestations, and population management. Less commonly, “rodent” is used as a contemptuous description for someone regarded as despicable, grasping, or furtive. The biological meaning is precise and neutral; the figurative meaning is strongly disparaging and belongs chiefly to informal, literary, or political rhetoric.
A small or medium-sized mammal with gnawing teeth, especially one belonging to the order Rodentia.
"Farmers installed wire barriers to keep rodents away from the grain stores."
The term is taxonomically precise when referring to members of Rodentia.
A contemptible or despised person, especially one portrayed as greedy or furtive.
"The speaker dismissed the corrupt officials as rodents feeding at public expense."
This figurative use is strongly derogatory and usually occurs in informal, literary, or political contexts.
The standard plural is used for both the animals and the derogatory sense referring to people.
"The researchers tracked the rodents as they moved between the fields and the barn."
Rodents are born with teeth that never stop growing, so they must gnaw constantly to keep them from becoming too long.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rodent come from?
“Rodent” comes through French from Latin rodens, meaning “gnawing” and “gnawer,” a present participle of rodere, “to gnaw.” The same Latin root underlies English words such as erode and erosion. The zoological sense developed after the animal order was formally distinguished in the nineteenth century.
Related word forms
How rodent is actually used
In its literal sense, the word is standard in biology and general usage. The figurative sense is strongly derogatory and is mainly used in informal or rhetorical contexts.