groundhog

American

[ground-hog, -hawg] / ˈgraʊndˌhɒg, -hɔg /

Or ground hog

noun

woodchuck.

groundhog British

/ ˈɡraʊndˌhɒɡ /

noun

another name for woodchuck

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of groundhog

An Americanism dating back to 1650–60; ground ¹ + hog

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Every 2 February since the late 1880s, people have gathered in the Pennsylvanian town of Punxsutawney to watch a groundhog be pulled out of his burrow and presented to the crowd.

From BBC

They hurried through more strips of forest, passing squirrels and birds and groundhogs and other friendly creatures.

From Literature

"A key challenge is ensuring that fiscal groundhog day doesn't become a twice-yearly ritual," Ms Miller said.

From BBC

Lewis Hamilton says he is devastated after running over a groundhog during Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix.

From BBC

"Being away from home, waking up early on a daily basis – it's like groundhog day," Draper told BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023