meerkat
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of meerkat
Dutch: literally, monkey, apparently equivalent to meer ( see mere 2) + kat cat
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.
One of the most familiar cooperative breeders to a human audience might be the meerkat, thanks to the documentary series Meerkat Manor.
From Slate • May 10, 2026
"When one meerkat calls, a neighbour is likely to reply," he adds.
From Science Daily • May 20, 2024
Researchers compared the genomes of these mammals with those of a diverse assortment of others, including an aardvark, a meerkat, a star-nosed mole and a human.
From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023
At times Bobby suggests a cross between two of Eichner’s better-known roles, merging the hyper-eloquent comic belligerence of “Parks and Recreation’s” Craig Middlebrook with the singing chops of “The Lion King’s” Timon the meerkat.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 29, 2022
Mind you, a standing meerkat reaches up eighteen inches at most, so it was not the height of these creatures that was so breathtaking as their unlimited multitude.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
