Norway rat

noun

: brown rat

Examples of Norway rat 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.
While roof rats make their homes in trees, rafters, and attics, Norway rats look for lower ground, digging out interconnected systems of tunnels and nesting spaces. — Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 17 Oct. 2026 There are a few possibilities for non-gopher holes, including the Norway rat, voles, moles, rabbits, ground squirrels and snakes, which don’t dig their own underground burrows but take over old tunnels and improve upon them. — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 18 May 2026 The Norway rat is the species found in Chicago. — Tara Molina, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026 Also called the Norway rat, these rodents are highly adaptive and excellent breeders. — Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Norway rat

Word History

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Norway rat was in 1753

Rhymes for Norway rat

See All Rhymes for Norway rat

Browse Nearby Words

Norway pine
Norway rat
Norway spruce
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Norway rat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Norway%20rat. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

Norway rat

noun
: brown rat

Medical Definition

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shindig

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All