Illustration of ermine
- winter coat
plural ermines
1
or plural ermine
a
: any of several weasels whose coats become white in winter usually with black on the tip of the tail
especially
: a weasel (Mustela erminea) chiefly of northern Eurasia and North America that has a short tail, is found in varied habitats (such as forest, grassland, and tundra), and preys especially on small mammals (such as voles and mice) : short-tailed weasel, stoat
b
: the white fur of the ermine
2
: a rank or office whose ceremonial or official robe is ornamented with ermine
Examples of ermine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An example: a steel-gray satin duchess coat lined in white ermine, with the black ermine tails falling from inside of the cuffs.
—
Ralph Rucci, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2025
Others, meanwhile, took notice of the speedy critter’s unique shape and coloring, and correctly identified it as an ermine.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Its name is said to come from the idea that the frosting is as silky as an ermine's white fur.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024
Others, meanwhile, took notice of the speedy critter’s unique shape and coloring, and correctly identified it as an ermine.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ermine
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Ralph Rucci, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2025
Others, meanwhile, took notice of the speedy critter’s unique shape and coloring, and correctly identified it as an ermine.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Its name is said to come from the idea that the frosting is as silky as an ermine's white fur.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024
Others, meanwhile, took notice of the speedy critter’s unique shape and coloring, and correctly identified it as an ermine.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ermine
Cite this Entry
“Ermine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ermine. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ermine
noun
er·mine
ˈər-mən 
plural ermine or ermines
1
: any of several weasels with black on the tail and a brown coat of fur which usually becomes white in the winter
2
: the white fur of an ermine
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