meerkat

noun

meer·​kat ˈmir-ˌkat How to pronounce meerkat (audio)
: any of several African mongooses
especially : a burrowing highly social primarily insectivorous mammal (Suricata suricatta) of southern Africa that is chiefly grayish with faint black markings and lives in usually large colonies

Illustration of meerkat

Illustration of meerkat

Examples of meerkat 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.
Visiting nature lovers can spot a few of the Big Five, add some birds to their life list or dine in the early morning alongside Namibia’s native meerkats, while those in need of a relaxing getaway can stick close to the lodge and unwind by the pool. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 The story is told by the shaman mandrill Rafiki (John Kani) to lion cub Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), with wise-cracking meerkat and warthog duo Timon and Pumbaa (Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, respectively) annoyingly interjecting entirely too often. Meredith G. White, The Arizona Republic, 17 Dec. 2024 Nick Cordileone brings an energetic voice to Timon the meerkat that really humanizes the puppet, while Danny Grumich as the warthog has a wonderful way of shaking his back legs. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Nov. 2024 Properties accommodating young children offer dedicated programs like arts and crafts, nature walks, animal track identification, cooking classes, and even the opportunity to interact with habituated meerkats in the Kalahari Desert. Maija De Rijk-Uys, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for meerkat 

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans, from Dutch, a kind of monkey, from Middle Dutch meercatte monkey, from meer sea + catte cat

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meerkat was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near meerkat

Cite this Entry

“Meerkat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meerkat. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

meerkat

noun
meer·​kat ˈmir-ˌkat How to pronounce meerkat (audio)
: a burrowing mammal of southern Africa that feeds chiefly on insects, is grayish with faint black markings, and lives in usually large colonies

More from Merriam-Webster on meerkat

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!