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

To be clear, these population estimates of exotica do not count the many millions of other, less welcome and nonnative mammals, such as feral hogs, nutria, black rats, brown rats or house mice that were introduced to Texas, on purpose or by accident. —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 9 Sep. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined above

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