noun
marten
MAH-tihn
noun
1
A slender, carnivorous mammal related to weasels, prized historically for its soft fur.
"A marten darted along the branch and vanished into the pines."
"Trappers once hunted marten for their valuable pelts."
How to Use Marten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, weasel-like forest animal known for its fur.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "martin," the bird — they sound identical but are unrelated animals.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
martens plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “marten”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ darted along the branch and vanished into the pines.
Etymology
From Old French martrine ("marten fur"), ultimately from a Germanic word for the animal.