woodchuck

American  

[wood-chuhk] / ˈwʊdˌtʃʌk /

noun

1. a stocky North American burrowing rodent, Marmota monax, that hibernates in the winter.

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woodchuck British  

/ ˈwʊdˌtʃʌk /

noun

1. Also called: groundhog.  a North American marmot, Marmota monax, having coarse reddish-brown fur

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Etymology

Origin of woodchuck

First recorded in 1665–75, presumably a reshaping by folk etymology of a word in a Southern New England Algonquian language; compare Narragansett ( English spelling) ockqutchaun “woodchuck”

Compare meaning

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

• marmot vs. woodchuck

Explanation

Woodchuck is another name for a groundhog, the chubby rodent commonly found in North America. Some gardeners consider woodchucks to be pests, but they help keep the soil healthy by burrowing. After groundhog, woodchuck is the most common name for this furry marmot, officially classified as a ground squirrel. Woodchucks have round bodies, short tails, and long teeth, and their underground digging annoys people who love their perfect lawns. All that burrowing is actually helpful, exposing compacted soil to oxygen and bringing nutrients to plant roots, making woodchucks garden heroes. The name comes from the Cree otchek, which describes a different mammal, the weasel-like marten.

Example Sentences

Today is Groundhog Day in the U.S. — where a woodchuck is tasked with a long-range weather forecast.

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2023

My first experience with the garden-erasing capacity of a woodchuck unhinged me when I was just coming to know rural life, as a weekender.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2022

"It's our largest program in virology by far," says John McHutchison, a gastroenterologist who is the company's chief scientific officer—and keeps a stuffed woodchuck in his office.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 29, 2018

Tim McIntyre: Thirty-three years ago, I was a junior woodchuck at Domino’s: an editor in the communication department.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2018

But the woodchuck proved to be a mistake.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple