lemming

[ lem-ing ]

noun

1. any of various small, mouselike rodents of several genera including Lemmus, Myopus, and Dicrostonyx, of far northern regions, as L. lemmus, of Norway, Sweden, etc., noted for periodic mass migrations that sometimes involve crossing bodies of water. Incidental drownings that have occurred during such passage gave rise to the myth of mass suicides among supposedly frenzied lemmings jumping from cliffs into the sea.
2. a person who follows the will of others, especially in a mass movement, and heads straight into a situation or circumstance that is dangerous, stupid, or destructive:

   These lemmings that eat up conspiracy theories are so blinded by lies, they don’t even see the cliff they’re about to plummet over.

lemming

/ ˈlɛmɪŋ /

noun

1. any of various volelike rodents of the genus Lemmus and related genera, of northern and arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America: family Cricetidae. The Scandinavian variety, Lemmus lemmus, migrates periodically when its population reaches a peak
2. a member of any large group following an unthinking course towards mass destruction

Derived Forms

• ˈlemming-ˌlike, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lemming¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Norwegian; cognate with Icelandic lómundr “lemming,” læmingr “loon”; akin to Gothic laian “to revile,” Icelandic lā “to blame”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lemming¹

C17: from Norwegian; related to Latin latrāre to bark

Example Sentences

Owls are carnivorous hunters known for feasting on mice, voles, lemmings, and even squirrels.

From Popular-Science

Less than a year later, I’m the first lemming off the cliff.

From Outside Online

“You become a lemming in a big scary world,” says Zbitnoff of making the transition.

From The Daily Beast

The articles say Miscavige exerts such influence that “managers follow his orders, however bizarre, with lemming-like obedience.”

From The Daily Beast

The Lemming multiplies with great rapidity under favourable conditions.

From Project Gutenberg

The lemming and the musk ox found a home, and the wild horse pranced about unrestrained by the hand of man.

From Project Gutenberg

Arctic hares, rabbits, rein-deer; and the lemming, in some parts of the interior.

From Project Gutenberg

The next moment he lifted his head with a fat lemming dangling from either side of his fine jaws.

From Project Gutenberg

He was very prettily marked about the face and tail, so I concluded that he was not a common rat, but probably a lemming.

From Project Gutenberg