raccoon

American  

[ra-koon] / ræˈkun /

racoon

noun

raccoons, plural raccoon plural

1. a nocturnal omnivore, Procyon lotor, the largest member of the family Procyonidae, having a masklike black stripe across the eyes, a sharp snout, a bushy, ringed tail, and very dexterous front paws, native to North and Central America and introduced elsewhere for its valuable fur: more than 20 subspecies have been named.

2. the thick, brownish-gray fur of this animal, with gray, black-tipped guard hairs.

3. any of various related animals of the genus Procyon, of Central American islands, some now rare.

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raccoon British  

/ rəˈkuːn /

noun

1. any omnivorous mammal of the genus Procyon , esp P. lotor ( North American raccoon ), inhabiting forests of North and Central America and the Caribbean: family Procyonidae , order Carnivora (carnivores). Raccoons have a pointed muzzle, long tail, and greyish-black fur with black bands around the tail and across the face

2. the fur of the North American raccoon

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• raccoon
  plural
• raccoons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of raccoon

An Americanism dating back to 1600–10; from Virginia Algonquian (English spelling) aroughcun, from arahkunem “he scratches with his hands”

Compare meaning

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

• raccoon dog vs. raccoon

Explanation

A raccoon is a mammal with dextrous, hand-like front paws and dark markings on its face that look like a mask. You might see a raccoon trying to get into your trash at night, looking for a midnight snack. Raccoons live in North and Central America, and they're commonly found in urban areas. They're known for their rascally nocturnal nature, since they can use their paws to open trashcan lids and often nest in people's attics. Raccoons can also carry rabies, and they hiss loudly when threatened. More charmingly, they also use their hands for washing and holding food — the Algonquian root of raccoon, arahkunem, means "he scratches with his hands."

Example Sentences

Some of the jokes seemed to write themselves — like when a raccoon fell through the ceiling at a Spirit gate at LaGuardia.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

What it picked up was a rotund raccoon waddling by.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

The parasite’s eggs must be in the feces for two to four weeks before they can cause infection, so officials urged quick cleanup of any raccoon feces using gloves.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2026

The last 12 months have delivered a huge number of viral moments - Taylor Swift getting engaged, a raccoon getting drunk, and the 6-7 trend driving teachers everywhere to early retirement.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

Radar has walked away from the raccoon and is tugging on the handle of one of the four locked steel doors.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green