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.
That length is a little bit shy of four feet, which is what Paul Hollywood would have if he got turned into a meerkat. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025 Humans, on average, are more monogamous than meerkats but less monogamous than beavers. — Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026 The clip shows the red‑shaded, shorthaired dachshund secured in his harness and dog bed, balanced upright like a meerkat in the back seat of the vehicle. — Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 The researchers found that beavers had a monogamy rating of 72%, while humans clocked in at 66%, slightly higher than meerkats’ score of 60%. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 10 Dec. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

meen
meerkat
meerschaum
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Meerkat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meerkat. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about meerkat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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