-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
brown rat
noun
: a common domestic rat (Rattus norvegicus) that has been introduced worldwide
called also Norway rat
Examples of brown rat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then, the most prevalent species was the brown rat or Rattus norvegicus.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2024
Riegel and others also had a chance to compare notes with an array of rat experts from Seattle, Boston, Washington, D.C., and British Columbia, Canada.
Unlike New York, New Orleans faces a pernicious rat situation because the city is going after not just brown rats, but also black rats.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2024
For example, brown rats typically burrow in the ground, near humans.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2024
But the history, evolution and ecology of rats – particularly the brown rat – isn’t well understood.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brown rat
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.
Word History
First Known Use
1737, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near brown rat
Cite this Entry
“Brown rat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown%20rat. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
brown rat
noun
: the common rat that is found about human dwellings
Medical Definition
brown rat
noun
: a common domestic rat of the genus Rattus (R. norvegicus) that has been introduced worldwide
called also Norway rat
More from Merriam-Webster on brown rat
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about brown rat
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share