lemming

American  

[lem-ing] / ˈlɛm ɪŋ /

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.

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lemming British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• lemming-like adjective

Etymology

Origin of lemming

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

Example Sentences

Bones of other animals now extinct in Scotland have also been recovered from the system of caves over the years - including lemming, wild horses, lynx and wolf.

From BBC

But there was no fountain of youth back then, Brenner noted, and the latest claims of its existence are sure to ultimately disappoint the long lines of lemmings.

From Los Angeles Times

The forbidding frozen wilderness of the high Arctic tundra is the natural home of the snowy owl, a great predator perfectly adapted to hunting its primary food source, lemmings.

From New York Times

Additionally, the team found evidence for hares, rodents, geese and lemmings.

From Washington Post

They also found evidence of coral, ants, fleas and lemmings.

From Scientific American