Illustration of mongoose
plural mongooses also mongeese
ˈmän-ˌgēs 
ˈmäŋ-
: any of numerous long slender carnivorous mammals (family Herpestidae) chiefly of Africa and southern Europe and Asia that are usually ferret-sized agile mammals typically with nonretractile sharp claws, short legs, long tail, and usually brownish or grayish fur sometimes with bands or stripes
Note: Mongooses feed chiefly on small animals (such as insects, earthworms, birds, snakes, and rodents) and are sometimes grouped with the viverrids in two subfamilies (Herpestinae and Galidiinae).
Examples of mongoose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An occasional shy mongoose takes cover amid the nodding Colocasias and glossy water lilies.
—
Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2024
Sometimes referred to as the Gaboon adder, this snake preys on a variety of small to medium-sized animals, including rodents like rats, birds such as francolins, and small mammals like rabbits and mongooses.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
The rabbits’ range has shrunk over the years, and the rabbits have also been preyed upon by invasive mongooses that had been introduced to curb viper populations in the area.
—Kate Golembiewski, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2024
Kwak and his colleagues even found that the rabbits rebounded after the removal of the invasive mongooses, which means that the ticks will likely recover, too.
—Kate Golembiewski, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2024
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Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2024
Sometimes referred to as the Gaboon adder, this snake preys on a variety of small to medium-sized animals, including rodents like rats, birds such as francolins, and small mammals like rabbits and mongooses.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024
The rabbits’ range has shrunk over the years, and the rabbits have also been preyed upon by invasive mongooses that had been introduced to curb viper populations in the area.
—Kate Golembiewski, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2024
Kwak and his colleagues even found that the rabbits rebounded after the removal of the invasive mongooses, which means that the ticks will likely recover, too.
—Kate Golembiewski, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mongoose
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Cite this Entry
“Mongoose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mongoose. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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