raccoon

noun

rac·​coon ra-ˈkün How to pronounce raccoon (audio)
also rə-
variants or less commonly racoon
plural raccoon or raccoons also racoon or racoons
Synonyms of raccoonnext
1
a
: a small nocturnal carnivore (Procyon lotor) of North America that is chiefly gray, has a black mask and bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees, and has a varied diet including small animals, fruits, and nuts
b
: the pelt of this animal
2
: any of several animals resembling or related to the raccoon

Illustration of raccoon

Illustration of raccoon
  • raccoon 1a

Examples of raccoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some people have to remove bird feeders during the summer because of problems with bears, raccoons, and other wild animals. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 July 2026 One Maryland family of five was left paying $13,000 out of pocket after their dogs encountered a rabid raccoon, 12 on Your Side reports. Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 People should not approach wild animals that appear sick, injured, or dead, including nocturnal species such as bats and raccoons that are active during daylight hours. Kelli Arseneau, USA Today, 1 July 2026 This enables researchers to track spatial and temporal trends for many Wisconsin species, such as black bears, bobcats, coyotes, opossum and raccoons. Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for raccoon

Word History

Etymology

Virginia Algonquian raugroughcun, arocoun

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of raccoon was in 1608

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Cite this Entry

“Raccoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raccoon. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

raccoon

noun
rac·​coon
variants also racoon
ra-ˈkün
plural raccoon or raccoons also racoon or racoons
: a small North American mammal that is mostly gray with a black mask, has a bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees and is active at night, and eats a varied diet including small animals, fruits, eggs, and insects
also : the pelt of a raccoon
Etymology

Virginia Algonquian raugroughcoon, arocoun "racoon"

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