noun
varmint
VAH-mihnt
Varmint (noun) means a wild animal considered a pest, especially one that threatens crops or livestock. Example: “The rancher set traps for the varmints raiding the henhouse.”
noun
1
A wild animal considered a pest, especially one that threatens crops or livestock.
"The rancher set traps for the varmints raiding the henhouse."
2
An annoying or troublesome person, often used humorously.
""You little varmint," he laughed, chasing his grandson around the yard."
How to use varmint
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA varmint is a pest animal — or, jokingly, a mischievous person — and the word has a distinctly rural, folksy feel.
When to use it
Informal and regional, strongly associated with American rural or Western speech.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- varmints
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The rancher set traps for the _____ raiding the henhouse.
Etymology
A dialect variant of "vermin," which traces back to Latin vermis, "worm." It became strongly associated with rural American English, especially in hunting contexts.
Synonyms
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vermin
varment
Related words
Rhymes for varmint
See all rhymes for varmint →Frequently asked questions
What does “varmint” mean?
The word “varmint” means a wild animal considered a pest, especially one that threatens crops or livestock. In plain terms, a varmint is a pest animal — or, jokingly, a mischievous person — and the word has a distinctly rural, folksy feel.
How do you pronounce “varmint”?
“Varmint” is pronounced VAH-mihnt (/ˈvɑɹmɪnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “varmint” in a sentence?
Here is “varmint” used in a sentence: “The rancher set traps for the varmints raiding the henhouse.”
What part of speech is “varmint”?
“Varmint” is a noun.
Where does the word “varmint” come from?
The word “varmint” comes from Latin. A dialect variant of "vermin," which traces back to Latin vermis, "worm." It became strongly associated with rural American English, especially in hunting contexts.
How many meanings does “varmint” have?
“Varmint” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wild animal considered a pest, especially one that threatens crops or livestock.
