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

See Examples For:

raccoon raccoons

Sean Gunn has no plans to continue his motion capture role for “Guardians of the Galaxy” character Rocket raccoon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

Apparently my 2 a.m. self is part snack-seeking raccoon, part conscientious housekeeper.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

First spotted bounding across streets in Washington, the Seattle raccoon with an unusual, spindly shape and the scamper of a Tasmanian Devil has been seized on by the internet as a new hit meme.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Wahl said the raccoon was his fiancée’s before they started dating and that he has never owned a raccoon, claiming Allen’s campaign has “gone off the rails.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

“What if a possum or a raccoon sees you with me? Wouldn’t that be embarrassing?”

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner

She said she saw more than two dozen dead animals, including raccoons and beavers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

"As cities expand and food waste increases, humans and raccoons cross paths more often," said Dr Idil Galip, digital culture researcher at the University of Amsterdam.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

We could also call Wild Bill’s Western Store a winner, as Front Office Sports reported the taxidermy shop sold out of stuffed raccoons thanks to high demand following Haaland’s viral post.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

Only raccoons are said to live in the Karlshorst buildings and birch saplings are sprouting out of a balcony.

From Barron's ● Feb. 8, 2026

Then the deer and the raccoons slipped into the shadows.

From "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown