noun

meerkat

MEER-kat

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Meerkat (noun) means a small, burrowing mammal of the mongoose family found in southern Africa, known for standing upright on its hind legs to watch for danger. Example: “A meerkat popped up out of its burrow to scan the horizon.”

noun

A small, burrowing mammal of the mongoose family found in southern Africa, known for standing upright on its hind legs to watch for danger.

"A meerkat popped up out of its burrow to scan the horizon."

"Meerkats live in tight family groups and take turns standing guard."

"The zoo's meerkat enclosure has a mound the animals love to climb."

How to use meerkat

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small African animal that stands on its back legs to keep watch.

When to use it

Meerkat is an everyday, informal name for the animal, not a scientific term.

Memory tip

The plural is simply meerkats, formed the regular way.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

a meerkat colony meerkats on guard duty a meerkat burrow a meerkat standing upright

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “meerkat” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ popped up out of its burrow to scan the horizon.

Etymology

The word came into English from Afrikaans meerkat, which itself was borrowed from Dutch meerkat, once used for a type of monkey. That Dutch word traces to Middle Dutch meercatte, literally 'sea cat'. An old High German form, merikazza, also existed, so any resemblance to Indian words for monkey is likely coincidental.

Origin: Afrikaans

Synonyms

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suricate

Frequently asked questions

What kind of animal is a meerkat?

It is a small mammal in the mongoose family, native to southern Africa's Kalahari Desert.

Why does the word mean 'sea cat' when meerkats live nowhere near the sea?

The name is inherited from an old Dutch word for a monkey and never described the animal literally; the 'sea cat' meaning is just the literal sense of its distant root.

Is 'suricate' the same as 'meerkat'?

Yes, suricate is another name for the same animal, Suricata suricatta.

What is the meaning of meerkat?

"meerkat" (noun) means a small, burrowing mammal of the mongoose family found in southern Africa, known for standing upright on its hind legs to watch for danger.