rattlesnake

American  

[rat-l-sneyk] / ˈræt lˌsneɪk /

noun

rattlesnakes plural

1. any of several New World pit vipers of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus, having a rattle composed of a series of horny, interlocking elements at the end of the tail.

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rattlesnake British  

/ ˈrætəlˌsneɪk /

noun

1. any of the venomous New World snakes constituting the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus , such as C. horridus ( black or timber rattlesnake ): family Crotalidae (pit vipers). They have a series of loose horny segments on the tail that are vibrated to produce a buzzing or whirring sound

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• rattlesnakes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of rattlesnake

An Americanism dating back to 1620–30; rattle ¹ + snake

Compare meaning

How does rattlesnake compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• roadrunner vs. rattlesnake

Explanation

A rattlesnake is a long, venomous reptile with a tail that shakes, making a sound like a maraca, before it bites. When you're camping in the Arizona desert, you'll want to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes get their name from the rattle at the end of their tails that's composed of rattling pieces of keratin, the same kind of protein found in your fingernails. In order to scare off predators, rattlesnakes noisily vibrate their tails, warning that they're ready to strike. While these snakes cause most snake bites in the U.S., they only attack if they're feeling threatened, and rattlesnake bites aren't deadly if they're treated right away.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rattlesnake rattlesnakes

“Tragically, a southern pacific rattlesnake was hiding under the brown padded envelope and bit Addy’s left hand,” the family wrote on the fundraising page.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Hayes emphasized that a bite from any rattlesnake remains a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026

Christopher Gadsden’s coiled rattlesnake “Don’t Tread On Me” flag from 1775 symbolized that fight for freedom: Don’t tell me what to do.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

The midtempo “Ridin’ High” starts with a descending harp glissando that pours into a synthesizer seasoned by a vibraslap’s rattlesnake hiss.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

“There is a Man,” she whispered, much as if it had been a rattlesnake.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

"Misconceptions about rattlesnakes create unnecessary fear and frequently result in people harming or killing them," the study stated.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026

Pygmy rattlesnakes showed especially high rates of snake fungal disease.

From Science Daily ● May 26, 2026

"In addition, pygmy rattlesnakes were expected to have an increased prevalence of Ro, as they primarily consume lizards and frogs which are known to transmit the parasite."

From Science Daily ● May 26, 2026

The odds of run-ins between outdoor enthusiasts and rattlesnakes have increased as people have hit the trails these last two months.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

Feral horses, belonging to my grandfather, ran wild over thick banks of water hemlock, and there were more than a few rattlesnakes.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover