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- copperhead 1
copperhead
noun
cop·per·head
ˈkä-pər-ˌhed 
plural copperheads
1
: a common pit viper (Agkistrodon contortrix) of the eastern and central U.S. usually having a copper-colored head and often a reddish-brown hourglass pattern on the body
2
disapproving
: a person in the northern states who sympathized with the South during the American Civil War
Examples of copperhead in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the most common venomous snakes in the state are rattlesnakes, coralsnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths.
—
Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Venomous snakes—including the timber rattlesnake, the copperhead, and the cottonmouth—all make this area their home.
—Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
While rare, copperheads can bite if they’re mishandled or feel threatened.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
Other snakes seen during the biannual Snake Road movement include nonvenomous plain-bellied water snakes, rough green snakes, and Western ribbon snakes, as well as venomous species like the northern copperhead and timber rattlesnake.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 19 Sep. 2025
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Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Venomous snakes—including the timber rattlesnake, the copperhead, and the cottonmouth—all make this area their home.
—Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
While rare, copperheads can bite if they’re mishandled or feel threatened.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
Other snakes seen during the biannual Snake Road movement include nonvenomous plain-bellied water snakes, rough green snakes, and Western ribbon snakes, as well as venomous species like the northern copperhead and timber rattlesnake.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for copperhead
Cite this Entry
“Copperhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copperhead. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
copperhead
noun
cop·per·head
ˈkäp-ər-ˌhed
1
: a common largely coppery brown poisonous snake of the pit viper family that occurs in the eastern and central U.S.
2
: a person in the northern states who sympathized with the South during the American Civil War
Medical Definition
copperhead
noun
cop·per·head
ˈkäp-ər-ˌhed
1
: a pit viper (Agkistrodon contortrix) widely distributed in upland areas of the eastern and central United States that typically attains a length of three feet (0.9 meter), is coppery brown above with dark transverse blotches, and is capable of inflicting a very painful but rarely fatal bite
2
: a very venomous but sluggish Australian elapid snake (Austrelaps superbus)
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