WordGarden.iorat
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /rˈæt/
US
- /ˈræt/
Meanings
Noun
a small rodent with a long tail
a person who secretly informs on or betrays others
an offensive derogatory term for a contemptible or untrustworthy person
Verb
to inform on or betray someone
Beyond the definition
A rat is most commonly a long-tailed rodent often found near humans, sometimes as an unwelcome guest. But "rat" also has a much harsher meaning: in slang, it can mean someone who tells secrets or informs on others, especially to the authorities. Think of a sneaky character in a movie giving someone away; they might be called a rat. The context will tell you whether the word refers to an animal or to a disloyal person.
The word "rat" usually brings to mind a small rodent with a long tail, a pointed snout, and a strong ability to survive in many places. Rats live all over the world and often stay close to people, especially where food and shelter are easy to find. Because of this, they are often linked with dirt, damage, or disease, although they also have a place in nature and have been widely used in scientific research.
However, "rat" also has a strongly negative slang meaning. A rat can be someone who betrays other people by giving away secrets or informing on them. In this sense, the word is close to "snitch," "informer," or "traitor." Calling someone a rat is a serious insult because it suggests disloyalty and broken trust.
The word also appears in the verb phrase "rat on" or "rat out," which means to tell someone in authority what another person did. You might read about rats on ships or in cities, but you may also hear that someone "ratted out" a friend to the police or to a teacher. So the word can point either to a real animal or to an act of betrayal, and the situation usually makes the meaning clear.
Examples
- 1
Household pest
We found a rat in the basement last winter.
- 2
Pet animal
Some people keep rats as pets.
- 3
Crime context
The gang thought he was a rat after he talked to the police.
- 4
Suspicion
As soon as he changed his story, I smelled a rat.
- Phrasesmell a rat
suspect that something is wrong or dishonest
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Informal warning
Don't rat on me to Mom.
- Patternrat on + person
tell an authority about something they did
- 6
Cluttered home
She's a real pack rat, so every drawer in her house is full.
- Phrasepack rat
someone who keeps too many things
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- ratnounverb
Forms
- ratspluralnounverb
- ratting-ing formverbnoun
- rattedpast tenseverbnoun