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garter snake

American

noun

any of numerous harmless snakes of the genus Thamnophis, common in North and Central America, ranging in size from 14 to 30 inches (36 to 76 centimeters) and typically having three longitudinal stripes on the back.

garter snake British

noun

any nonvenomous North American colubrid snake of the genus Thamnophis, typically marked with longitudinal stripes

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of garter snake

An Americanism dating back to 1760–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Official snake: The giant garter snake is recognized as the official snake of California.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

When mice invaded his house, he didn’t poison them but enlisted the help of a garter snake he found outside.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

The decision led not only to new habitat for the area’s endangered garter snake and threatened red-legged frog, but also a bike path alongside the creek for humans to enjoy.

From Slate • May 26, 2025

The work, Davy says, “has revealed a whole new side to garter snake sociality.”

From Science Magazine • Dec. 15, 2023

On Tuesday, Missy saw a garter snake slithering through the grass behind the blacktop.

From "I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980" by Lauren Tarshis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023